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Suzy Spencer Mysteries #1
The Flower Arranger at All Saints
A Cozy Murder Mystery Set in a Picturesque Cumbrian Village
In quiet Tarnfield, local rivalries and parish feuds simmer under the genteel surface. It’s the sort of place where everyone knows each other’s business. And a new vicar wants to shake things up in the community.
Then Phyllis the church flower arranger is found dead before the big Easter service.
Who Would Kill a Seemingly Sweet Old Lady?
With fingers pointing and tensions rising, the village is in turmoil.
Chaotic mum-of-two, Suzy Spencer, has just arrived in Tarnfield. She needs a fresh start after her husband betrayed her. Now she finds herself entangled in the mystery along with quiet widower, Robert Clark.
The killer is set to strike again with another floral flourish. Despite their differences, can Suzy and Robert stop the murderer before anyone else suffers?
A new series of cozy mysteries full of red herrings and twists and turns.
In quiet Tarnfield, local rivalries and parish feuds simmer under the genteel surface. It’s the sort of place where everyone knows each other’s business. And a new vicar wants to shake things up in the community.
Then Phyllis the church flower arranger is found dead before the big Easter service.
Who Would Kill a Seemingly Sweet Old Lady?
With fingers pointing and tensions rising, the village is in turmoil.
Chaotic mum-of-two, Suzy Spencer, has just arrived in Tarnfield. She needs a fresh start after her husband betrayed her. Now she finds herself entangled in the mystery along with quiet widower, Robert Clark.
The killer is set to strike again with another floral flourish. Despite their differences, can Suzy and Robert stop the murderer before anyone else suffers?
A new series of cozy mysteries full of red herrings and twists and turns.
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
February 27, 2021
This is a book I bought for my Kindle because it was only 99 cents. I finally got around to reading it, and really enjoyed it. I read most of it in a day.
Tarnfield is a quiet village where everyone knows everyone else's business. But after Phyllis, the Flower arranger, is found dead in the church, Suzy Spencer, a recent arrival in the village, suspects this wasn't a natural death. She soon discovers that there are many secrets in this village.
I couldn't put this down until I finished. This is book 1 of 3 in the series, and I have just purchased the next 2.
Tarnfield is a quiet village where everyone knows everyone else's business. But after Phyllis, the Flower arranger, is found dead in the church, Suzy Spencer, a recent arrival in the village, suspects this wasn't a natural death. She soon discovers that there are many secrets in this village.
I couldn't put this down until I finished. This is book 1 of 3 in the series, and I have just purchased the next 2.
February 21, 2021
This is an engrossing book with many characters in a small village in England where everyone knows everyone and their backstories. There are many themes to the story and I found I was caught up in the personal dramas of many of the characters. The characters range in age from seniors to teenagers and the author proves knowledgeable and able to make all of the interesting and threatening in some cases. I found the Church Of England setting for several murders intriguing and the Biblical clues along with various combinations of flowers has inspired me to learn more about the Bible as a history resource. There are many red herrings and enough cfharacters to keep the reader guessing till the end.
I liked the heroine who is a single mother and the romance that gets started in this book and look forward to reading the next books in this series since this the first of a new one by this author.
I liked the heroine who is a single mother and the romance that gets started in this book and look forward to reading the next books in this series since this the first of a new one by this author.
December 9, 2023
Enjoyed reading it
A good story with lot of characters placed in a small English village where everyone knows everyone. Nice start of a series.
A good story with lot of characters placed in a small English village where everyone knows everyone. Nice start of a series.
October 26, 2021
Good story!
I was slow reading this so I may have enjoyed it more if I had read quicker. A good story with a lot of characters which made it a little to keep track them all. It kept my interest if didn't read for several days. A rather complex mystery with interesting characters! Enjoy!
I was slow reading this so I may have enjoyed it more if I had read quicker. A good story with a lot of characters which made it a little to keep track them all. It kept my interest if didn't read for several days. A rather complex mystery with interesting characters! Enjoy!
January 12, 2021
Suzy Spencer mystery
I enjoyed this book very much, plenty of suspects and I liked Suzy and Robert the heroes. Interesting plot and I did not work out who the guilty party was.Looking forward to reading the next book.
I enjoyed this book very much, plenty of suspects and I liked Suzy and Robert the heroes. Interesting plot and I did not work out who the guilty party was.Looking forward to reading the next book.
April 9, 2021
The perfect English village murder mystery. Fans of Miss Marple will love it!
October 1, 2021
Decent prose and characterization, okay world building and story, no theme. There was a fairly long introductory narrative used to acquaint the reader with the relationships and gossip in the small village and I found this a little trying.
The protagonist was divorced with two children, there was a gay couple, annoying young adults, Christian fanatics, the middle aged, a new young priest, and the elder members of the church. All the tropes. Revelations and a mystery.
And a shame about the theme. Whenever there is the spiritual and the psychological there are many rather easy themes. If good people went wrong was there a common thread?
Overall 3-tropes, I mean stars.
The protagonist was divorced with two children, there was a gay couple, annoying young adults, Christian fanatics, the middle aged, a new young priest, and the elder members of the church. All the tropes. Revelations and a mystery.
And a shame about the theme. Whenever there is the spiritual and the psychological there are many rather easy themes. If good people went wrong was there a common thread?
Overall 3-tropes, I mean stars.
September 22, 2024
Great story
When I started reading this book, I wasn’t sure if I would like it. By the end, I was totally invested. I was amazed at how the author described small village church life so perfectly, with all the human imperfections that can cause worldly distractions that get in the way of a true relationship with Jesus, all the while knitting a murder mystery and love story together. Totally recommended.
When I started reading this book, I wasn’t sure if I would like it. By the end, I was totally invested. I was amazed at how the author described small village church life so perfectly, with all the human imperfections that can cause worldly distractions that get in the way of a true relationship with Jesus, all the while knitting a murder mystery and love story together. Totally recommended.
January 10, 2021
The Flower Arranger At All Saints
Suzy Spencer has her suspicions when her friend Phyllis dies while doing the flowers in All Saints Church. Working with widower Robert Clark the pair try to unravel the mystery as the death toll rises.
This is a brilliant book and one I found hard o put down as I got so engrossed in it. The story itself moves along at a nice pace and is full of twists and turns. The characters are well defined and jump off the page.
I'm all ready looking forward to the next book in the series. Highly recommended.
Suzy Spencer has her suspicions when her friend Phyllis dies while doing the flowers in All Saints Church. Working with widower Robert Clark the pair try to unravel the mystery as the death toll rises.
This is a brilliant book and one I found hard o put down as I got so engrossed in it. The story itself moves along at a nice pace and is full of twists and turns. The characters are well defined and jump off the page.
I'm all ready looking forward to the next book in the series. Highly recommended.
January 25, 2021
Not my cup.of tea.
Implausible, too much religion/theology for me. I couldn't develop a connection to the protagonist. Not badly written, just not my type of mystery.
Implausible, too much religion/theology for me. I couldn't develop a connection to the protagonist. Not badly written, just not my type of mystery.
January 20, 2021
An interesting and intriguing glimpse of village relationships
Strong characterisation, though this strayed into some stereotyping at times. The change of perspective as the reader visited the various households allowed for in-depth understanding of each character’s views, fears, foibles etc and enhanced suspicion as various motives were revealed. However, the shifts of perspective were sometimes too abrupt and created a choppy feel. The exploration of the murder/s was thorough but lacked any police engagement, even to the hit-and-run, which I found unbelievable and disappointing. The ending was abrupt and I felt there was a lack of the sense of real justice being done. Over all, the plot was intriguing and I enjoyed the interplay of the protagonists and the development of their relationships.
Strong characterisation, though this strayed into some stereotyping at times. The change of perspective as the reader visited the various households allowed for in-depth understanding of each character’s views, fears, foibles etc and enhanced suspicion as various motives were revealed. However, the shifts of perspective were sometimes too abrupt and created a choppy feel. The exploration of the murder/s was thorough but lacked any police engagement, even to the hit-and-run, which I found unbelievable and disappointing. The ending was abrupt and I felt there was a lack of the sense of real justice being done. Over all, the plot was intriguing and I enjoyed the interplay of the protagonists and the development of their relationships.
February 27, 2021
Odd
If you're familiar with the church and the way it works, you will be ahead of the game. If you figure out who the killer is, hats off to you!
If you're familiar with the church and the way it works, you will be ahead of the game. If you figure out who the killer is, hats off to you!
August 29, 2023
Cozy rural murder
Suzy Spencer, a now-single, part-time TV producer and mother of two, finds herself involved in the parish church side of her community. Helping with the flower arranging brings her into contact with neighbours and the local vicar. Then she becomes involved in the death of a fellow arranger. As the bodies mount up, she finds love and danger lurking in the area and she doubts her own suspicions.
Lots of characters in this that can overwhelm at the beginning. So many names and traits flung about that it was initially difficult to keep track and together with the bible references, I did lose focus a few times. The plot was littered with lots of red herrings and potential suspects but I did have to keep reading to find out who the murderer was, which was a surprise. Enjoyable read overall.
Suzy Spencer, a now-single, part-time TV producer and mother of two, finds herself involved in the parish church side of her community. Helping with the flower arranging brings her into contact with neighbours and the local vicar. Then she becomes involved in the death of a fellow arranger. As the bodies mount up, she finds love and danger lurking in the area and she doubts her own suspicions.
Lots of characters in this that can overwhelm at the beginning. So many names and traits flung about that it was initially difficult to keep track and together with the bible references, I did lose focus a few times. The plot was littered with lots of red herrings and potential suspects but I did have to keep reading to find out who the murderer was, which was a surprise. Enjoyable read overall.
January 18, 2021
This is a different genre for a murder mystery. Being as it is based on murders in and connected with the church.
Suzy is 'stranded' in a small village after the breakup of her marriage. The murders bring her into contact with widower, Robert.
While discussing the deaths they think they may have been murdered but cannot get the police to take an active interest.
While there are definitely dead bodies, the story is more about the characters in the village. Plus the blossoming relationship between Suzy and Robert as they try to work out what the flowers and clues, from the book of Issaha mean.
Well written and you fall into village life. Definitely different. Will see how the 2nd book goes.
Suzy is 'stranded' in a small village after the breakup of her marriage. The murders bring her into contact with widower, Robert.
While discussing the deaths they think they may have been murdered but cannot get the police to take an active interest.
While there are definitely dead bodies, the story is more about the characters in the village. Plus the blossoming relationship between Suzy and Robert as they try to work out what the flowers and clues, from the book of Issaha mean.
Well written and you fall into village life. Definitely different. Will see how the 2nd book goes.
February 10, 2025
I worried that this book, being centered around the churchgoers of the village, might put me off by religious proselytizing, but it did nothing of the sort. Although the faith (and crises of faith) of the characters was a prominent feature of the book, and necessarily woven into the background for the murders, it was in no way off-putting for someone who does not practice that religion.
The book was well-written and the reader was able to get to know the characters intimately; they were vivid and realistic. The plot and the solution were actually very surprising. The book genuinely kept me interested from start to finish, and I find that's rare these days. It is definitely a "keep and reread" novel.
The book was well-written and the reader was able to get to know the characters intimately; they were vivid and realistic. The plot and the solution were actually very surprising. The book genuinely kept me interested from start to finish, and I find that's rare these days. It is definitely a "keep and reread" novel.
May 20, 2022
Un-put-downable
This is not only a full length novel - rare in present times - but it was also one that once begun I couldn't put down until the end, meaning no sleep last night. There are plenty of red herrings, little snippets that give you a you a faint hint towards the answer but I can honestly say that, despite all this, I had no idea of who did what or why until nearly at the very end of the book.
Quite frankly one of the best books I have read this year and a writer whose books I will definitely be buying more of, especially this series. It is truly great to be reading more books set in the UK, written with British (and Irish) English and I give this writer five stars.
This is not only a full length novel - rare in present times - but it was also one that once begun I couldn't put down until the end, meaning no sleep last night. There are plenty of red herrings, little snippets that give you a you a faint hint towards the answer but I can honestly say that, despite all this, I had no idea of who did what or why until nearly at the very end of the book.
Quite frankly one of the best books I have read this year and a writer whose books I will definitely be buying more of, especially this series. It is truly great to be reading more books set in the UK, written with British (and Irish) English and I give this writer five stars.
January 30, 2021
A fascinating find..
Apart from being a compulsive read with some convincing characters and a tenacious heroine this book contains many references to church seasonal practices.Also many biblical quotes. These were fascinating..
The village setting and the character mix worked very well together, creating a sometimes claustrophobic atmosphere but a credible picture of the influence secrets, subterfuge and high handedness could have on a relatively small group.
Loved all the unravelling, red herrings and outcome. Good one!
I have the next two books already.
Apart from being a compulsive read with some convincing characters and a tenacious heroine this book contains many references to church seasonal practices.Also many biblical quotes. These were fascinating..
The village setting and the character mix worked very well together, creating a sometimes claustrophobic atmosphere but a credible picture of the influence secrets, subterfuge and high handedness could have on a relatively small group.
Loved all the unravelling, red herrings and outcome. Good one!
I have the next two books already.
May 6, 2021
I found this book quite by chance when I was browsing, trying to find a cosy mystery with a church theme. Although there are a lot of characters, which is confusing at first, the author does a couple of recaps in the story as to who everyone is and how they fit into village life so it all becomes clearer as the book progresses. I loved the interaction of the characters and secrets they all kept from each other which were slowly revealed over the course of the story.
She seems to have only written three books in the series, so I'll have to read the next one a bit more slowly!
She seems to have only written three books in the series, so I'll have to read the next one a bit more slowly!
January 8, 2022
With a change in pastors at the local church and the suspicious death of the Church’s floral director the arguments among many of the movers and shakers in the small community are revealing strange competition and alliances among the lay members. When the second murder occurs the local residents try to determine the motives but don’t seem particularly motivated to find answers - their curiosity is aroused but their actions don’t seem to be. I found the story was very Biblical and kind of dragged on. I can’t recomend it or disparage it. It was okay.
August 28, 2023
Good story
Not your typical village cozy murder mystery. In fact, the characters spend the vast majority of the book not investigating the mystery in any sort of systematic way. Instead, they seem to stumble around with village gossip that doesn't quite add up until the villain conveniently exposes themself. For all of the rather chaotic failure to investigate, it's still an enjoyable read and is told in bits and pieces from the perspectives of literally everyone in the village.
Not your typical village cozy murder mystery. In fact, the characters spend the vast majority of the book not investigating the mystery in any sort of systematic way. Instead, they seem to stumble around with village gossip that doesn't quite add up until the villain conveniently exposes themself. For all of the rather chaotic failure to investigate, it's still an enjoyable read and is told in bits and pieces from the perspectives of literally everyone in the village.
September 3, 2023
A Good Mystery for older teens & adults
This was a good, well developed plot and read like the good British mystery. I barely gave it 4 stars because it is a "clean" from sex and swears, so appropriate for teens and adults. I find the issues of incest in many of these mysteries to be a bit tiring (or disturbing if it reflects the society of British villages). Also, there were a lot of characters to keep track of but still, it was a good mystery that is entertaining and keeps the reader guessing who the murderer could be. And that makes it a worthwhile read!
This was a good, well developed plot and read like the good British mystery. I barely gave it 4 stars because it is a "clean" from sex and swears, so appropriate for teens and adults. I find the issues of incest in many of these mysteries to be a bit tiring (or disturbing if it reflects the society of British villages). Also, there were a lot of characters to keep track of but still, it was a good mystery that is entertaining and keeps the reader guessing who the murderer could be. And that makes it a worthwhile read!
May 10, 2025
This was a riveting read set in a small village. It begins with the murder of the flower arranger at the church which is written off as an accident. Suzy and Robert are not so sure. When another local woman who is not a nice character, is murdered in what also seems another accident, Suzy is determined to investigate further.
I loved the small village vibe and the many characters, all of which seem to have secrets to hide. It is the characters that make the story and I thoroughly enjoyed how things played out. I look forward to reading more in this series.
I loved the small village vibe and the many characters, all of which seem to have secrets to hide. It is the characters that make the story and I thoroughly enjoyed how things played out. I look forward to reading more in this series.
January 19, 2021
Very Good!
Excellent first of a new series, hopefully! I usually do not read private investigation books, preferring police procedurals. This one, however, has interesting characters , convoluted story, and important topic. There is no definitive ending but many questions have been answered! Religion and politics are emotional, rather than rational topics, so people will always encounter situations like this!
Excellent first of a new series, hopefully! I usually do not read private investigation books, preferring police procedurals. This one, however, has interesting characters , convoluted story, and important topic. There is no definitive ending but many questions have been answered! Religion and politics are emotional, rather than rational topics, so people will always encounter situations like this!
September 29, 2023
Another reviewer mentioned a long intro introducing characters was trying. I agree. I'd have said tedious and off-putting. I did keep trying to be engaged by the story but I made it 12% in and don't much like anyone. But the big problem is there's been no action. Someone's dead, but that's it. I think the actual thing the book should be about has been drip fed into a huge mound of waffle. I really don't care whodunnit, so sadly, I give up.
January 4, 2026
Was excited to read this series as it sounded interesting
within the first few pages, there it is the "F*ck" word
I'm know to spit the word out myself on occasion, but I DO NOT WANT TO READ it in books, I cannot believe the author could not choose a different word that would have worked just fine
So I will not be buying this series as I don't know how many times she has bombed pages with the word, which is a shame as the series sounded good
May 4, 2026
In the quiet village of Tarnfield, where everyone knows everyone else's business and long-time traditions rule, the church flower arranger is found dead after setting up for the big Easter service, seemingly from a heart attack, but a strange "flower clue" was left behind, and village newcomer Suzy Spencer finds herself caught up in unravelling its meaning with widower Robert Clark.
A good mystery with lots of twists and turns.
A good mystery with lots of twists and turns.
March 29, 2021
An interesting read, if not a little plodding with far too many characters. I was curious to see who the murderer was. That did keep me guessing. The caricature that was created of born again Christians was very disturbing as was the very fuzzy theology which is discussed in the story. It was disappointing that the crimes went unpunished. Where were the police?
May 15, 2021
Twists and Turns Galore
There are many plot lines and twists and it keeps the mystery going, but it can be an exhausting read. Most memorable: in a restaurant she says she needs to go to the loo and he says ' don't stay too long, they don't have a bidet here. Whaaaaat?!?!? Who would say that.. to anyone.. ever?? Eeewwww! 😐 Cannot understand why that remark is in this book.
There are many plot lines and twists and it keeps the mystery going, but it can be an exhausting read. Most memorable: in a restaurant she says she needs to go to the loo and he says ' don't stay too long, they don't have a bidet here. Whaaaaat?!?!? Who would say that.. to anyone.. ever?? Eeewwww! 😐 Cannot understand why that remark is in this book.
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April 24, 2022Delightful!
I have to admit to really having enjoyed this. It was an impulse but but no regrets! Well drawn characters and an engaging plot - especially for someone like me who has met folk very like many of them in the course of church life - not that they normally murder each other!!!
I have to admit to really having enjoyed this. It was an impulse but but no regrets! Well drawn characters and an engaging plot - especially for someone like me who has met folk very like many of them in the course of church life - not that they normally murder each other!!!
May 21, 2022
interesting reading
As a Christian the references were interesting…but I struggled quite a bit in the beginning! Stopped reading several times, but was also curious about the ending! Not my favorite book, but did make it through the end. The British and Episcopalian influence probably kept me going!..my favorite person was Suzy…naturally!
As a Christian the references were interesting…but I struggled quite a bit in the beginning! Stopped reading several times, but was also curious about the ending! Not my favorite book, but did make it through the end. The British and Episcopalian influence probably kept me going!..my favorite person was Suzy…naturally!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews