Flower Dead

A Gossipy Gardener Cozy Mystery

by Linnea West

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plumeria Watson is settling into semi-retirement after working as a salesperson for Williamson's Jewellery Store for 50 years. Monday mornings, however, are still her day at the shop and on this particular Monday, she opens the store only to find that an expensive emerald bracelet has gone walkabout! Despite police interference, Plummie and her friend Agnes will solve the crime!

Plumeria is reprehensible - she's into everyone's business and will tell you how to run it, too. Nonetheless, she is endearing. She really does wants the best for everyone, if only they'd let her tell them what it is. Her core group seems to have a good grasp when it comes to dealing with her - Agnes gives back as good as she gets and Plumeria's husband, Hector, has his dance of indulging her while managing his own interests down pat.

My foray into this book was tentative - the last book I read also had an obnoxious main character that I disliked immensely, but Linnea West struck just the right balance and created a senior citizen who is 1 part caustic and 3 parts lovable. I doubt this series will be everyone's cup of tea, but I found Flower Dead charming.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The theme for this new cozy series I thought was gardening. The three titles i've seen and three gorgeous outdoor yard scenes on book covers and the Gossipy Gardener headings are quite misleading. Our hero is even named after a blooming deciduous shrub. Plumeria works at a jewelry store and 90% of this cozy was at the jewelry store. I just couldn't figure out why she didn't work at the local garden center entertaining customers with her expertise. Or why the mystery didn't involve the local farmers market, neighborhood seed exchange or the camelia society. All this would have made perfect sense for a gardening themed cozy! On the positive side I adored Plumeria; she's different but oozes charm and a natural humor. A character I would have loved gardening with. I appreciated how clean the author made the story. Plumeria is proof that humor can be classy. I also loved that she's older! No genre spends enough time with senior citizens! I did not care one flower petal for Agnes though! It was so off putting to read that she keeps her head shaved so she can fight. No woman wants to shave her head and keep it that way.

[Patt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flower Dead is a cross between cozy mystery and humor. I couldn't help laughing at the antics of the main character, Plumeria. Even her name indicates humor. She thinks she can be a detective and solve the case of the missing bracelet, but she stumbles and bumbles through it, angering the police and upsetting Mia, one of the jewelry store employees. She thinks everyone should bow down to her ideas. She reminds me of many women I have known in my 76 years, but each one had only one of her characteristics. Put them all in one woman and you have a very humorous book. And her best friend is even more ridiculous! No wonder her husband spends so much time working in the garage on projects!
*I received an ARC of this book from the author for an unbiased review.

[Ruth Coulson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My goodness! We have all known someone like Plumeria. She doesn't like to be thought of as a Senior Citizen, but she has been working in the same jewelry store for 50 years. Of course she knows everything about everything, but not just in the store. If she had her way she would be running the whole town as it would be more efficient that way. So when an emerald bracelet is missing she just knows she will be the one to solve the crime.

Such confusion. Such fun. A thoroughly enjoyable read. And the beginning of a series. Get ready for lots of chuckles.

[Michele Bishop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plumeira Watson has worked for Williamson's Jewelry Store for fifty years, but now only works part time on Monday mornings. The assistant manager, Chase normally doesn't come in until noon on Monday. However, he came in early and Plumeira is upset as he is disturbing her routine. He goes into the back and starts sorting the jewelry that has been left for repairs. He asks Plumeira to help and when she opens the box that held Mrs. Williamson's bracelet, finds it empty and immediately decides there has been a robbery. The police arrive and soon send everyone out so they can search the store. Plumeira decides to solve the mystery herself along with her friend Agnes. Things go from bad to worse as they try to investigate. It is an extremely funny story, as the search for the robber continues. If you enjoy a funny story with bumbling characters, it is a perfect book.

I received this book free from the author for my reviews of same.

[Tari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious short story and intro for the new series! I've never met a main character quite like her who has such an extremely high opinion of herself, but that's what made it so funny, and she was really a nice lady who only wanted to help. I actually liked Agnes a lot, she was a hoot! She's like the comic act to Plumeria's straightman act, and it worked out great! At first, I couldn't stand assistant manager Chase, but he came down off his little cloud and became more human eventually.

I had actually started reading the first book then I remembered getting this via the author's newsletter and thought I'd give it a quick read before I got too far in the first book. It's where the whole detective kit thing came about which was what I was kind of reading it for. Agnes putting her own detective kit together was really funny!

[CHud · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I first started to read this, I thought the quirkiness of Plumeria was cute. Indeed, it added much humor to the story. Then we were introduced to Agnes, which added yet another level of insanity. As the story progressed it became a constant course of crazy from one or the other, and often both. After awhile it became tedious and irritating and distracted from the main plot. I forced myself to finish reading it because I wanted credit for the effort towards my goal.

[Trinity Waddell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unsure of the relevance of the book name. I couldn't quite figure that out other than Plumeria likes gardening.
It was a good wee mystery but personally I didn't love either Plumeria or Agnes. A couple of old busy bodies who I found infuriating! Plumeria's attitude of thinking she was above everybody put me off but I guess an author who can invoke strong feelings about a character is writing well. A good mystery just not the characters for me.

[Judith Mosconi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kind of liked reading about the pompous, know-it-all main character as she maneuvers her way through a robbery at the jewelry store where she works part time. Her best friend though is so obstructive, irritating and out of control that it finally ruined the book for me. I'm afraid I just don't want to join them again for further adventures.

[Laurie Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light reading, a simple mystery with a few twists.
I thought some of the characters were stronger than needed but I later realised this was necessary to maintain the mystery.
The lead character initially appeared a bit dotty but after the new clue becomes more sensible.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was well-written, however my low grade was due to the main character. She reminded me of Hyacinth Bucket in the British TV show "Keeping Up Appearances". So self absorbed and annoying.

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's 3.5 from me. The story was cozy enough - but I just found the lead character too annoying.