Quarry in the Quince

Lovely Lethal Gardens #17

by Dale Mayer

Riches to rags ... Chaos is down ... Everyone loves sparkly rings ... Some more than others!
Who knew a simple trip to the consignment store would find Wendy being strong-armed by two strangers? So not allowed—especially as it could affect Doreen getting her month-end check! Trying to get to the bottom of this is one convoluted story to sort out. It involves Bernard—an eccentric and handsome older man, who had a very young fiancée in his life—the breakup, and the resulting theft. Corporal Mack Moreau is not at all happy with Doreen’s new male friend, Bernard, who has the money to keep her in the style she was accustomed to. However, Mack is happy Doreen is staying out of his cases, if only she could stay out of trouble! Then again, Doreen can find trouble like this without any effort on her part. At least this time she also befriends another Kelowna icon, who lives behind Wendy’s store and who is well-known for her quince jams and jellies. Yet a big shiny reward from Bernard awaits someone who solves the theft and how it involves Wendy and the jam icon. Maybe—just maybe—that someone could be Doreen.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Audiobook, Contemporary, Cozy, Mystery Thriller, Animals

292 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2022

About the author

Dale Mayer is a USA Today bestselling author best known for her Psychic Visions and Family Blood Ties series. Her contemporary romances are raw and full of passion and emotion (Second Chances, SKIN), her thrillers will keep you guessing (By Death series), and her romantic comedies will keep you giggling (It's a Dog's Life and Charmin Marvin Romantic Comedy series).

She honors the stories that come to her - and some of them are crazy and break all the rules and cross multiple genres!

To go with her fiction, she also writes nonfiction in many different fields with books available on resume writing, companion gardening and the US mortgage system. She has recently published her Career Essentials Series. All her books are available in print and ebook format.

To find out more about Dale and her books, visit her at http://www.dalemayer.com. Or connect with her online with Twitter at www.twitter.com/dalemayer and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dalemayer.author. If you like Dale Mayer's books and are interested in joining her street team, sign up here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/40238...

Books by Dale Mayer

Psychic Vision Series
Tuesday's Child
Hide'n Go Seek
Maddy's Floor
Garden of Sorrow
Knock, Knock...
Rare Find
Eyes to the Soul - fall/winter 2014

By Death Series
Touched by Death - Part 1 - Free
Touched by Death - Part 2
Touched by Death - Full book
Haunted by Death
Chilled by Death - fall/winter 2014

Second Chances...at Love Series
Second Chances - Part 1
Second Chances - Part 2
Second Chances - Full book

Novellas
It's a Dog's Life- romantic comedy

Charmin Marvin Romantic Comedy
Broken Protocols #1
Broken Protocols #2
Broken Protocols #3

New adult/adul crossover Books
In Cassie's Corner
Gem Stone (a Gemma Stone mystery)

Design Series
Dangerous Designs
Deadly Designs
Darkest Designs

Family Blood Ties Series
Vampire in Denial
Vampire in Distress
Vampire in Design
Vampire in Deceit
Vampire in Defiance

Non-Fiction Books
Career Essentials: The Resume
Career Essentials: The Cover Letter
Career Essentials: The Interview
Career Essentials: 3 in 1

Reviews

[Leanne ~ Tales From The Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was an absolute cracker, I loved every moment. I think I solved this one along with Doreen.
Once again we have all her animals in the plot as well as her Nan and Mack.
We have criminals hunting for a stolen ring, it's a cold case from 10 years ago that has come to light.
Doreen is on the warpath determined to solve this crime and drive Mack crazy as she'll surely need rescuing.
This is becoming one of my favourite series and scares me we are getting closer to Z. I highly recommend this story and all the ones before.

[ClassicKails · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doreen I am just adoring you even more. ❤️

[Emmalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What the whatttttt!!!! That ending!!!! 🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣
Okay the story was good, Doreen is helping Wendy out because she’s being threatened by these mysterious guys in a white van. Now we all know Doreen isn’t about to let that stand. Soon she’s involved in the mystery disappearance of a yellow diamond worth millions, and snacking on some quince jam that everyone loves.

[Judy Hardwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still enjoying this series

Although, I'm ready to wrap it up with a happily ever after....
Still, I ordered the next book bc I'm hooked. Ha.

[CarolKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way this book opens with tea at Millicent's. Macks mother is definitely encouraging a relationship between Mack and Doreen. There's mention of Mack's brother Nick moving back to Kelowna as well. When Doreen mentions going to the consignment store on their way to the beach, Mack discourages her by reminding her it's Saturday and to wait until Monday to get her consignment check. He also mentions the Esther, and her famous Quince trees behind the store. It seems everyone loved Esther's quince jam but she doesn't sell it anymore.

We found out in the last book that Wendy at the consignment store has some shady characters coming around. This book gets to the heart of that issue. We all know Doreen supports her friends and Wendy's store is where she gets part of her income. She's not going to let anyone hurt Wendy, and she finally gets the story out of her. Apparently, a woman tried to get Wendy to buy a ring for cash, a lot of cash. Wendy doesn't buy things she takes them on consignment. Not that she'd have the kind of money the woman wanted for it even if she did.

Doreen not only gets her check from Wendy but actually sees the men bothering Wendy and getting a photo of the van's plates. Doreen tells Wendy to expect a visit from Mack. There's no way Doreen wasn't going to get him involved if Wendy is in danger.

After missing a call from Mack, Doreen calls Wendy on her way out with Goliath, Thaddeus and Mugs for another walk. She's going to check out the alleyway and see if there's any place the woman could have hidden the ring. That's when she meets Esther and sees the murder of crows that inhabit the quince trees.

A trip to the library has Doreen find information about Bernard, his ex, Candy and the ring. She follows this up with a trip to the grocery where she runs into Esther. After seeing her purchases, Esther invites her to her home where she has plenty of jam to go with Doreen's peanut butter. Doreen leaves with a lot of the jam everyone raves about as well as fresh fruit from Esther's other trees.

We see more of the guys threatening Wendy and of course Doreen and Mack are involved with finding out who exactly they are. There's also the problem of finding Candy who apparently disappeared right after the debacle of the ring.

Everyone's reaction to Esther's jam is hysterical and I think Mack's was the best.

We all know that quince is going to play a part in this story. I love the way things twist and turn between the past and the present. Every little clue dropped intertwines with both. Mack and Doreen's relationship moves steadily forward is delightful.

I can't wait for the next book in this series!

[TrishAM · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the seventh book in Dale Mayer's enchanting "Lovely Lethal Gardens" series, all following a letter in the alphabet, I am now looking forward to reading Revenge in the Roses.
Doreen Montgomery had lived in a gilded cage, she had people to do her washing, her cleaning, her cooking, she had no domestic skills but she did have an wealthy, objectionable, ,cheating husband.
The divorce was going through at a slow pace and Doreen was living in a house left to her by her wonderful Nan, she was being taught domestic skills by her best friend Corporal Mack Moreau of the Kelowna pd, their's was more than friendship but Doreen wouldn't let it go any further until her divorce was through, the connection between them was obvious, but would she leave it too late ?
Doreen was becoming quite well known in Kelowna, she had discovered that she had skills as an amateur sleuth and, much to long suffering Mack's consternation, although Doreen had proved successful, she was also putting her life in danger.
An older man gets engaged to a younger woman with a multi million dollar ring and both the ring and the fiance disappear after a row at the engagement party, the trail goes cold.........until.
Doreen's funds are low and her friend Wendy is selling some clothes for her in her store so that she is able to buy food for her and her pets. When visiting Wendy to collect her cheque, Doreen is accosted by two thugs who have been terrorising Wendy about a missing ring.
This story follows Doreen's search for clues for the missing ring, Mack's frustration in trying to keep her safe, Nan delightfully poking her nose in, all mixed up with Esther's quince jelly and, of course, not forgetting Doreen's irresistible pets, Muggs the dog, Goliath the cat and Thaddeus the brilliant talking parrot. A lovely, amusing, enjoyable story.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doreen goes to the consignment store to find out if Wendy has any money for her only to find her being strong-armed by two strangers. Determined to get to the bottom of it to ensure her potential income from now, Doreen has a very convoluted tale to dig into involving Bernard who is an eccentric older man who had a younger fiancee, they broke up in a public way and the resulting theft of the large sparkling ring he gave her. Obviously, Doreen's beau Corporal Mack Moreau is not happy with her new male friend who definitely has the money to keep her in the way she was used to thanks to her soon to be ex-husband, although at least she is staying out of his own cases. The problem is that she always finds trouble without any effort although this time she has befriended a Kelowna icon behind Wendy's store who is known for her quince jams and jellies. Can Doreen be the one to get the reward by solving the theft and how it involves Wendy and the jam icon?

I really enjoyed this story which was a nice change from the usual style of mystery that Doreen solves. It was great to see that Doreen was able to be more comfortable with the situation with Mack but she really needs to move on from waiting for a finalised divorce! I loved the story and how it involved the quince jam icon lady in the solution to that. It was also interesting to learn a bit more about Wendy and Kelowna. It was easy to be transported into the story and to feel and feel the thoughts and emotions of the people involved in this story. I can't wait to read what is going to happen next.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doreen is ever changing, growing as is her relationship with Corporal Mack. Her reputation is starting to proceed her, she is becoming more well known and boy where will that go in the remaining books. Doreen is doing her best to help keep Wendy safe at her consignment shop after seeing some men try and pressure her. With Thaddeus, Goliath and Mugs by her side she is once again chasing down a mystery and the twist and turns in this one just kept on coming. I really appreciate her taking ownership of her friendship to possibly more with Mack. I am not sure what is going on with Richard, as Doreen says he is weird, but is it good or bad? Anyone remember Mr Wilson popping up over the fence on the tv show Tool Time? That is what I keep thinking of. LOL I appreciate that we get to visit with Nan, Doreens grandmother and each book provides the pros, cons and different scenarios of aging. Old folks home, senior living, so many different thoughts and interpretations. I am entertained and I think. Thank you for the arc, I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions.

[Irene S · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Doreen's rich ex-husband dumped her penniless, she struggles month to month with her monthly finances. One of the ways that she has earned money is to sell items at her friend Wendy's consignment shop. When Doreen sees two men threatening her friend Wendy, Doreen wants to help. Her curiosity is piqued when she hears that the men believe that Wendy has a yellow diamond ring that has been missing for ten years. Mac shouldn't object if Doreen starts looking into the missing former fiancée and the missing diamond. After all they are cold cases, but the threats are real. I received a free copy of this book from Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is an interesting cozy mystery. I love how Doreen refuses to be bullied anymore and stands up to the men threatening Wendy. I also love her curiosity and her analytic skills which help solve mysteries. I also love watching Doreen and Mac's relationship evolve. He is such a patient man. This is an entertaining and quick read.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quarry in the Quince is the 17th book in Lethal Gardens series. In the previous books in the series, Doreen gets a reputation for solving cold case murders. So when the book starts, I was waiting for a dead body to start the search for a killer. This book was a totally different kind of mystery. The book starts with Doreen going to her friend Wendy’s consignment store to pick up a check. While she is at the store, she sees Wendy being threatened by two goons looking for a diamond ring. Doreen convinces Wendy to call the police. Mack is the cop that arrives, he warns Doreen not to get involved with these guys, but Doreen can’t stop herself. Even though she’s dating Mack, Doreen can’t listen to his warning, she needs to solve the mystery of the ring. I enjoyed following Doreen as she solved the mystery and I think you would too!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn't read a book in this series in a while, and I was pleasantly surprised by how fresh and sparkly this new episode was! The main character's personality, Doreen, has evolved, and so have the traits of her pets while remaining consistent with their old selves. Doreen is becoming more self-assured, maintaining her ingenuity, brilliant mind, generosity, and empathy. She dominates the scene, acting as a magnet for the cast of characters revolving around her: her beloved grandmother, her almost-boyfriend, her neighbors, and the entire small village population where she lives.
The storyline progresses at a good pace, with a steady rhythm that makes the reading interesting and captivating at all times.
Overall, Quarry in the Quince is an enjoyable book to read. A light and entertaining novel that entices a smile and is the perfect companion for a lazy and sunny spring afternoon.

[Wendy Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, I read it to quickly and it's over in a blink😢. I adore this series but the words just speed by so fast that I finish almost before I start. So many twists and turns, it's gripping and suspenseful, also a little fun. And friends! Doreen actually connected with some people in a good way. This was intriguing and interesting, of course I sussed out some of it quite early on but still loved the journey of everyone catching up. Great characters who are easy to like or not, the plot was great and this is a fast moving pace. The animals and nan were awesome, I just love the fun of them and the unexpected that usually crop up🐕🐈🦅. The ending though, wow! I sure hope the next one is soon coz I can't hold my breath all that long... Dale how could you do that to me? Impatient reader waiting 🙅‍♀️🙆‍♀️

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another delightful entry in a series that never fails to put a smile on my face as I slap on my figurative detective cap and try to suss out who the culprit is before Doreen can beat me to it. Lol Yes, every entry of this series is fun, and I am always super excited to meet up with Doreen, Mack, Nan and the scene stealing trio of Muggs, Goliath and Thaddeus. The twisty tale will keep you glued to the pages and the mystery will have you guessing and working the case right along with these beloved characters. Along the way Doreen and Mack's slowly evolving relationship keeps us hooked with a ton of undeniable chemistry and a whole lot of "Will they or won't they", that means not only my head is invested but my heart also. Cannot wait for the next book!! This is my objective, unsolicited review.

[Rachael Bromley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t do anything else but love Doreen and her animals. This book takes us into the depths of stolen rings and the most amazing quince jam that the towns people have ever had. Things never go according to plan as a friend of Doreen’s is threatened by 2 men after one thing, a ring that was stolen 10 years ago.

Doreen does what she does best, and that is to piece all of the clues together and fix the puzzle swirling in her head. She finds the goons, find the missing woman, finds the ring (but which one is it), gets her hands on some of that amazing quince jam and deals with her ex. All she has to do is slot everything into place with the help of Candy. I can’t lie. I just can’t get enough of these books. The epilogue at the end promises us another awesome read.

[Char Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

We join Doreen and her quirky pets as they get into another cold case.When Doreen and her animals walk to Wendys to see if she has any money for Doreen.She sees two guys threatening Wendy.When Doreen asks what it was about Wendy says they think she has a yellow diamond ring.Will Doreen get in over her head again?Will Mack be able to keep her from being hurt again?Will Doreen solve a case over ten years older.?There are so many twists an turns to this story you will be riveted until The very last page an leave you begging for more.I love the way this amazing author brings the characters to life before your eyes an you can feel their emotions an their pain.I can hardly wait to see what's next by this multi talented author

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quarry in the Quince by Dale Mayer
Lovely Lethal Gardens Series Book Seventeen
Doreen’s adventures with her three pets, Mugs the Basset hound, Goliath the Maine coon cat, and Thaddeus the African Grey parrot, continue. However, she finds herself in the middle of a cold case once again when she finds out what’s troubling Wendy from the secondhand shop.
An engagement gone wrong, missing jewelry, a missing person, and some bullies. Not to mention a jam that is irresistible to certain folks and some new friends for Thaddeus.
There are always unique and funny stories in this cozy series that have me anxiously waiting for the next book to come out.
**Language
https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com...

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a joy to read this book. It's a mystery with twists and turns, has multiple characters, multple stories going on, and there is a hint of romance between Mack and Doreen. The story revolves around Doreen and her animals solving a case. You will have to read the book to see how she does this. Her boyfriend, Corporal Mack, keeps asking her to stop and to stay out of the case.

This Series is different than Dale's other Series. I love her other Series, so I decided to read this book when I saw it. I really enjoyed it especially because the book was a mystery with only a hint of romance and I didn't have to read the prior books in the Series. After reading the book, I plan to read this Series from the beginning.

I received a free copy of this book for an honest review. I would recommend this book to anybody who enjoys mystery with a hint of romance books. The book is easy to read, refreshing, and should not be missed.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 17th from my fav cozy mystery series.
By now i'm so invested in Doreen's life story, her wittiness, her love life with Mack that growing in each book, her fur babies and I adore her relationship with Nan, and her relationship with everyone. I adore and admire Doreen from the first book. So there's no exception with this book, I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

As for the mystery, it's about the cold case of the stolen yellow diamond mixed with quince jam. Yup it's another fun fast-paced mystery read.

Definitely highly recommended book and highly recommended series for cozy mystery fans and everyone who's looking for a fun mystery read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doreen wants to help her friend Wendy who is being bullied by a couple of thugs. She steps in to a cold case of a missing diamond ring. This one is an unusual one as there is a real ring and a fake ring. As Doreen unravels this case she grows a little closer to Mack, makes a new friend and of course turns the town upside down with her unconventional ways. It's always fun to see Doreen and her ragtag group of animals solve the mysteries. One of my absolute favorite series. I volunteered to read this book via Booksprout.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Quarry in the Quince . I love reading the adventures of Doreen and her furry and feathery family . Doreen and her animals are into another case and the case is very intriguing
The characters are always unique and corky as is Doreen herself . Can Doreen figure out what happened to the huge engagement ring and keep herself safe or will Mack and her animals come to the rescue . I absolutely love this series . I could not put this story down. I highly recommend taking the time to read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Fleur · Rating 4 out of 5]

We knew something was brewing with Wendy in the last book and of course Doreen has to be smack dab in the middle of it, but would we want it any other way! Mack's jealousy gets to come out in full force and I don't blame him for feeling he could lose Doreen but then again this is not the old Doreen, but the new head strong one! A great read with plenty of laughs, a good mystery and adorable pets that leaves me wanting the next book to see what happens next with everyone!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Klarissa Wilkinson · Rating 1 out of 5]

0/5. TW transphobic comment.

I was exactly 50% through this thing, thinking of a few things that have rubbed me wrong like implying "Grand Theft Auto players will become delinquents irl" and generalizations like "young people just don't trust the safety of good ole home canned food" AND THEN home girl decides to write "I know some trans people do a good job of looking female." Sorry?? No.

Otherwise your typical cozy mystery but there’s no recovering from that. In assuming the high ratings are just due to cult following.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this series! The animals, Doreen's innocence, Nan and of course Mack all keep the stories interesting. I am concerned about Mack, however. He seems to be annoyed by Doreen and several people warn Doreen to grab on to him and don't let him go. Several men have been willing to help Doreen but Mack is the one always by her side.

This mystery was obvious to me but the many twists threw me off the track. Enjoyable read.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book seventeen in the Lovely Lethal Gardens series, another great story in this series. Doreen is at it again, Bernard is a new man who comes into her life and Corporal Mack Moreau is not to happy about it. There is suspense, drama, danger, a missing diamond ring, villains, twists, turns, and a mystery. The ending has me wanting to read the next book. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book and I absolutely loved it.
Another well-written intriguing mystery story, Doreen and her trio of pets are on the lookout for a missing ring and the decade old mystery surrounding it. I love how Doreen is now opening up to the fact that her and Mack are more than friends and with her divorce looking like it will finally start to come through, things are definitely looking better until they aren't.... I honestly can't wait for the next book.

[Melissa Swafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very charming interesting mystery. Doreen stumbles into the case of the missing diamond ring while protecting her friend from bullies. As usual, Doreen, her beloved menagerie, Nan, and Mack engage us in figuring out who did what and where is the missing part. Very suspenseful, delightful story. Cannot wait to read Revenge in the Roses.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pamela Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun, can't put down cozy mystery in the delightful Lovely Lethal Gardens series with Doreen, Mugs, Thaddeus and Goliath on a mission to stop bullying and also solve a ten-year-old missing diamond ring case. I love Doreen and enjoy her dynamic with the other characters especially Corporal Mack Moreau as their friendship deepens. If you enjoy well written cozies, don't miss Quarry in the Quince. I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[JigsawGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

One good thing is that Mack and Doreen's romance seems to be more obvious in this book.

Doreen is still up to her usual antics, standing up to and insulting bad guys with guns, and driving Mack crazy with her involvement in his cases.

Normally, the last chapter is a lead in to the next book. The last chapter in this book left my mouth hanging open. I would rate this at 3.5 stars with the most interesting part being the last chapter.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doreen and Mack are getting closer and understanding each other more. We find out what has been going on with Wendy. Esther is introduced in this book as she has the quince tree in her yard. We also meet the people involved in the cold case. Doreen solves another case and then...the ending.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doreen and Mack are joving forward even at the very slow pace they have set. Watching them grow closer and strong is a very nice ride,
Doreen is starting to fit in, has made a few friends which she will help when needed. This sees a nice paced story friendship growing, relationships moving forward while a few cases are closed. Love the twist in this story.