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Beaufort Scales Mystery #6
Coming Up Roses
There's a fine line between 'eccentric' and 'a danger to oneself and others'.
And that line may just lie with the body in the freezer.
That's certainly what DI Adams is thinking when said body turns up in Rose's freezer. Rose might not look like an octogenarian black widow, but it's the inspector's job to follow the evidence, no matter how distasteful that might be.
Alice and the ladies of the Toot Hansell Women's Institute, however, couldn't disagree more. They don’t believe for a moment that Rose is responsible for anything worse than a little forgetfulness, and they're certainly not going to let her be hauled off to jail or an old folk's home for a crime she didn’t commit. They're taking matters into their own hands, and if certain detective inspectors have rather limiting beliefs regarding what constitutes "helping the police with their investigations", well, they shall just have to deal with it.
Between Rose's squabbling exes, mysterious relatives, and shadowy connections to the more fringe elements of the scientific community, Alice and the W.I. are in a desperate race to clear Rose's name - if they can - before DI Adams has no choice but to arrest her.
And hunting the real murderer would be a lot easier if they didn't also have a small problem involving lurking journalists hunting dragons, as well as certain eccentric dragons who seem determined to hunt them back …
Nothing's looking too rosy in Toot Hansell this spring.
A funny cozy mystery (with dragons), for anyone that likes their mysteries British, gentle, and well-stocked with cake, tea, and friendship. And dragons, obviously.
Coming Up Roses is the sixth book in The Beaufort Scales series of cozy mysteries (with dragons) - pick up Baking Bad today to see where it all began!
Note: This cozy mystery contains:
• no graphic violence
• no sex
• no strong language; however it does contain some blasphemous language
Also, there are copious quantities of cake and tea. You may need supplies.
And that line may just lie with the body in the freezer.
That's certainly what DI Adams is thinking when said body turns up in Rose's freezer. Rose might not look like an octogenarian black widow, but it's the inspector's job to follow the evidence, no matter how distasteful that might be.
Alice and the ladies of the Toot Hansell Women's Institute, however, couldn't disagree more. They don’t believe for a moment that Rose is responsible for anything worse than a little forgetfulness, and they're certainly not going to let her be hauled off to jail or an old folk's home for a crime she didn’t commit. They're taking matters into their own hands, and if certain detective inspectors have rather limiting beliefs regarding what constitutes "helping the police with their investigations", well, they shall just have to deal with it.
Between Rose's squabbling exes, mysterious relatives, and shadowy connections to the more fringe elements of the scientific community, Alice and the W.I. are in a desperate race to clear Rose's name - if they can - before DI Adams has no choice but to arrest her.
And hunting the real murderer would be a lot easier if they didn't also have a small problem involving lurking journalists hunting dragons, as well as certain eccentric dragons who seem determined to hunt them back …
Nothing's looking too rosy in Toot Hansell this spring.
A funny cozy mystery (with dragons), for anyone that likes their mysteries British, gentle, and well-stocked with cake, tea, and friendship. And dragons, obviously.
Coming Up Roses is the sixth book in The Beaufort Scales series of cozy mysteries (with dragons) - pick up Baking Bad today to see where it all began!
Note: This cozy mystery contains:
• no graphic violence
• no sex
• no strong language; however it does contain some blasphemous language
Also, there are copious quantities of cake and tea. You may need supplies.
361 pages, ebook
First published September 24, 2021
98 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
About the author
Kim M. Watt
42 books335 followersHello lovely people!
I’m Kim (as you may have guessed, given that you're on the author page for Kim). I write funny fantasies and off-beat cosy (or cozy, depending where you're from) mysteries set in a world not so dissimilar to ours - and in fact sharing many locations.
And in this not-dissimilar world you'll find mystery-solving dragons with a strong affection for barbecues and scones, and snarky feline PIs with human sidekicks. You'll run across baking-obsessed reapers running petting cafes stocked with baby ghouls, Apocalyptic riders on Vespas, and women of a certain age Getting Things Done. There may even be the odd born-again troll redefining troll-ness for the modern age about the place.
You'll find myth and reality clashing in small and spectacular ways, and discover the healing magic of tea and a really good lemon drizzle cake.
But, most of all, there will be friendship, and loyalty, and people of all species looking out for one another. Because these, above all things, are magic.
And you can find me rambling on about all this (and more) over on my website, or join me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for bad puns and many, many cat memes. Many.
Come join me!
I’m Kim (as you may have guessed, given that you're on the author page for Kim). I write funny fantasies and off-beat cosy (or cozy, depending where you're from) mysteries set in a world not so dissimilar to ours - and in fact sharing many locations.
And in this not-dissimilar world you'll find mystery-solving dragons with a strong affection for barbecues and scones, and snarky feline PIs with human sidekicks. You'll run across baking-obsessed reapers running petting cafes stocked with baby ghouls, Apocalyptic riders on Vespas, and women of a certain age Getting Things Done. There may even be the odd born-again troll redefining troll-ness for the modern age about the place.
You'll find myth and reality clashing in small and spectacular ways, and discover the healing magic of tea and a really good lemon drizzle cake.
But, most of all, there will be friendship, and loyalty, and people of all species looking out for one another. Because these, above all things, are magic.
And you can find me rambling on about all this (and more) over on my website, or join me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for bad puns and many, many cat memes. Many.
Come join me!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
April 25, 2023
A young, eighty-three year old lady decided to have ice cream with her morning cereal. She enters her utility room, opens the chest freezer and can't find the ice cream. It seems to be covered with a body. She mulls over this happenstance for most of the day before she seeks help. Does she call the police? Of course not. Rose calls members of the Toot Hansell Women's Institute. So begins Kim Watt's sixth in the Beaufort Scales series. Puns, humor, reflections on life and zany antics. Terrific reads for in between more serious perusals.
Don't steal the books or you will be fed to the dragons. When a cat winks at you be sure to wink back.
Don't steal the books or you will be fed to the dragons. When a cat winks at you be sure to wink back.
February 15, 2025
Another cosy and thrilling pageturner starring the WI, DI’s, dragons and other Folk.
September 13, 2021
Another adventure with the ladies of the Toot Hansell Women's Institute, my favorite Detective Inspectors, Dragons and more. Somehow the WI always seems to find some trouble and dive right into it, although it's really more like it seeks them out. But their Dragon friends and others (not all journalists are awful after all) always help them find a conclusion. This one was another great story of humor, mystery, "other" and most of all friendship amongst a group of people (and yes I'm referring to all the kinds of people!) who have love and loyalty and courage.
Thompson was in it briefly (more Thompson please! Actually more Dragons and Folk in general). This was a pretty twisty mystery and the conclusion was fantastic!
I highly recommend this author, this series and the Gobbolino London series. If I had one complaint it would be that I now have to wait for another book in the series and it's simply torture...or maybe that's just my bibliophile tendencies speaking. Can't wait for the next book in either series and if you try them and like them (I don't see how you couldn't!) subscribe to Kim Watts' newsletter and get the added bonus of more fabulous recipes and short stories that are every bit as good as her books.
And by the way, what did happen in London?!?
I received an ARC of this book but I can promise you it didn't make even a tiny little bit of difference in my opinion or this review.
Thompson was in it briefly (more Thompson please! Actually more Dragons and Folk in general). This was a pretty twisty mystery and the conclusion was fantastic!
I highly recommend this author, this series and the Gobbolino London series. If I had one complaint it would be that I now have to wait for another book in the series and it's simply torture...or maybe that's just my bibliophile tendencies speaking. Can't wait for the next book in either series and if you try them and like them (I don't see how you couldn't!) subscribe to Kim Watts' newsletter and get the added bonus of more fabulous recipes and short stories that are every bit as good as her books.
And by the way, what did happen in London?!?
I received an ARC of this book but I can promise you it didn't make even a tiny little bit of difference in my opinion or this review.
September 24, 2021
The sixth in this excellent series, Coming Up Roses, hits a little close to home. If you have read the blurb (and I presume you will long before you read my humble review), you will be aware that one of the Toot Hansell WI- an elderly professor, Rose- raises concerns amongst her friends about the reliability of her memory. I'm a Social Worker with older people and see this situation most days; what I don't see - or haven't yet, there's still time- is a body turning up in one of their freezers. Yay! I take comfort in the fact that my Mum's freezer is so full, you could barely get a carton of home-made ice cream in there, let alone a body. Double Yay!
All that being said, I found Coming Up Roses incredibly moving, as well as being funny as these books usually are. The fabulous Ms Watt has some marvellously insightful things to say about growing older, and the ways in which older people (especially women) are marginalised and thought to need 'doing to', for their own good of course! There are some truly beautiful moments of true and wonderful friendship between a somewhat disparate group of women that I found to be quite inspiring. I really wanted to find and quote my favourite part, the one that made me cry out of sheer pathos, but it escapes me. You'll have to find it for yourself to see if it hits you the same way.
All that being said, I found Coming Up Roses incredibly moving, as well as being funny as these books usually are. The fabulous Ms Watt has some marvellously insightful things to say about growing older, and the ways in which older people (especially women) are marginalised and thought to need 'doing to', for their own good of course! There are some truly beautiful moments of true and wonderful friendship between a somewhat disparate group of women that I found to be quite inspiring. I really wanted to find and quote my favourite part, the one that made me cry out of sheer pathos, but it escapes me. You'll have to find it for yourself to see if it hits you the same way.
September 17, 2021
This was my first visit to the village of Toot Hansel and I wasn’t disappointed. I was a little concerned that jumping into book 6 of a series might not work for me, but it really wasn’t a problem. It felt like being a newcomer in a generous and hospitable group of friends in that they clearly had a deep and intriguing history with one another but I didn’t feel excluded by it. Quite the opposite, it made me want to go back and find out more about exactly how the dragons became friends with the WI, and how the DI acquired her invisible dog . . .
There were a couple of points that were a bit confusing, for example, a Rosemary appears who seems to be a different person from the central Rose character, but then she vanishes without a trace. In the same way one person is referred to as both Colin and Collins in two halves of a conversation, but maybe he’s Colin Collins? A seasoned reader may have understood where I didn’t.
This aside, there is a plot that draws you in and likeable characters who had me wondering what they were getting up to while I was supposed to be concentrating on other things, highly recommended.
There were a couple of points that were a bit confusing, for example, a Rosemary appears who seems to be a different person from the central Rose character, but then she vanishes without a trace. In the same way one person is referred to as both Colin and Collins in two halves of a conversation, but maybe he’s Colin Collins? A seasoned reader may have understood where I didn’t.
This aside, there is a plot that draws you in and likeable characters who had me wondering what they were getting up to while I was supposed to be concentrating on other things, highly recommended.
November 19, 2021
2021 bk 351. I badly needed a laugh out loud book and the dragons again prevailed to drive away the dark demons of my previous read. This time the book focuses on Rose, a member of the W.I. and a woman who is wondering if she is beyond a little forgetful. When she discovers a body in her freezer - well - she must call in the W. I. to help her not be charged with murder and to discover her own true state of mind. With the help of the dragons, dandy the 'demon' dog, nosy cryptid reporters, two current lovers, and her friends, well, the question is - whose sanity will be the most tested?
October 3, 2021
Love this series
Yet another wonderful book which manages to say very profound things about the human condition while remaining funny and entertaining. What a joy to see older women being leaders and having very active love lives. When a new Beaufort Scales mystery comes out, I simply buy it knowing it will be a delight.
Yet another wonderful book which manages to say very profound things about the human condition while remaining funny and entertaining. What a joy to see older women being leaders and having very active love lives. When a new Beaufort Scales mystery comes out, I simply buy it knowing it will be a delight.
November 15, 2021
Coming Up Roses by Kim M Watt
Rating: 5/5 stars
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
The W.I of Toot Hansell is enjoying the budding spring when suddenly a corpse ends up in the freezer of Rose. Fully entangled into the investigations of the police, they also try to solve some personal issues regarding cognitive health.
My thoughts:
The story covers super important topics such as cognitive issues. It actually hit me quite hard, thinking of my grandfather after his stroke and how he struggled to find the right words, or words at all and sometimes didn’t quite seem to understand who he was talking to. I def remember him talking about flowers flying outside…
In this book, it’s not a depiction of Dementia and more an old person growing worried, because objects turn up in strange places and they can’t remember putting them there.
Anyway, the story is nice, with some turning and secrets and whatnot, but as always, isn’t really creepy. I made the mistake of reading on in the evening and suddenly it was 1am…oh well XD
The characters are lovely and entertaining and I really love seeing Miriam grow and tackle problems (or suspects XD). Seeing a new side of Walter was entertaining as well.
Toot Hansell is magical and blooming and threatened by cryptozoologist journalists, who want to report on the dragons. It was entertaining to read and I’m excited to see if they’re here to stay.
Thoughts and emotions are written so well that you can really follow them all and feel for them. You see the struggles and worries and love and magic of friendship and I just love reading these books everytime!
All in all, this is a sweet book about friendship and health struggles and murders and finding the right way in difficult situations. I rate it five stars.
Rating: 5/5 stars
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
The W.I of Toot Hansell is enjoying the budding spring when suddenly a corpse ends up in the freezer of Rose. Fully entangled into the investigations of the police, they also try to solve some personal issues regarding cognitive health.
My thoughts:
The story covers super important topics such as cognitive issues. It actually hit me quite hard, thinking of my grandfather after his stroke and how he struggled to find the right words, or words at all and sometimes didn’t quite seem to understand who he was talking to. I def remember him talking about flowers flying outside…
In this book, it’s not a depiction of Dementia and more an old person growing worried, because objects turn up in strange places and they can’t remember putting them there.
Anyway, the story is nice, with some turning and secrets and whatnot, but as always, isn’t really creepy. I made the mistake of reading on in the evening and suddenly it was 1am…oh well XD
The characters are lovely and entertaining and I really love seeing Miriam grow and tackle problems (or suspects XD). Seeing a new side of Walter was entertaining as well.
Toot Hansell is magical and blooming and threatened by cryptozoologist journalists, who want to report on the dragons. It was entertaining to read and I’m excited to see if they’re here to stay.
Thoughts and emotions are written so well that you can really follow them all and feel for them. You see the struggles and worries and love and magic of friendship and I just love reading these books everytime!
All in all, this is a sweet book about friendship and health struggles and murders and finding the right way in difficult situations. I rate it five stars.
September 19, 2021
Another Stunning Installment!
Once again Ms Watt doesn’t disappointed with this, the sixth installment of the Beaufort Scales Mysteries series! Beautifully written, a clever and tightly-woven plot, excellent food and lots of tea, and once again, its the wonderful friendships and wit that make these books so special!
We go a bit darker and a bit more serious as the eldest member of the Toot Hansell W.I. finds an unexpected body in her freezer, and the dragons and ladies of the W.I. (Women's Institute) waste no time rallying together to protect Rose. Some deeper themes about getting older are also explored with great empathy.
I loved how the characters of Rose and Walter shine in this book, and we learn a lot more about them, and their friendship. I already fell in love with them in the first short story of the A Toot Hansell Christmas Cracker book, and was delighted that they were given center stage!
Don’t miss out! Get your copy of any or all of the Beaufort Scales Mysteries and enter the world of scone-eating dragons, feisty ladies of a certain age, snarky cats, invisible dogs and a very exasperated Detective!
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Once again Ms Watt doesn’t disappointed with this, the sixth installment of the Beaufort Scales Mysteries series! Beautifully written, a clever and tightly-woven plot, excellent food and lots of tea, and once again, its the wonderful friendships and wit that make these books so special!
We go a bit darker and a bit more serious as the eldest member of the Toot Hansell W.I. finds an unexpected body in her freezer, and the dragons and ladies of the W.I. (Women's Institute) waste no time rallying together to protect Rose. Some deeper themes about getting older are also explored with great empathy.
I loved how the characters of Rose and Walter shine in this book, and we learn a lot more about them, and their friendship. I already fell in love with them in the first short story of the A Toot Hansell Christmas Cracker book, and was delighted that they were given center stage!
Don’t miss out! Get your copy of any or all of the Beaufort Scales Mysteries and enter the world of scone-eating dragons, feisty ladies of a certain age, snarky cats, invisible dogs and a very exasperated Detective!
I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2024
In this fifth book set in the village of Toots Hansell, a body turns up in Rose's freezer, and soon everybody - Alice, Mirian and members of the WI and, of course, the dragons are trying to solve the mystery and protect Rose, much to the chagrin of DI Adams and her invisible dog. After much meandering and chaos, the murderer is caught of course.
I have enjoyed this series, despite finding the writing being rather long-winded, because the characters, including the dragons, have been fascinating and fun. However, this fifth book may be the last straw, with its drawn-out maudlin descriptions, the women turning into caricatures, and a final fight capturing the murder that was overwrought, dragged out and just plain stupid.
I have enjoyed this series, despite finding the writing being rather long-winded, because the characters, including the dragons, have been fascinating and fun. However, this fifth book may be the last straw, with its drawn-out maudlin descriptions, the women turning into caricatures, and a final fight capturing the murder that was overwrought, dragged out and just plain stupid.
September 19, 2021
"How much can one forget? I mean, really?"
What I loved most about this book was that it made the fear of forgetting something terribly real.
I'm sure almost everyone has seen it in people they love, the second guessing, the uncertainty, the concern.
Now add a random appearance of a body in the freezer into the mix, and you've got a real conundrum where even you can't be one hundred percent certain of your own innocence.
As always, the author delivered a gripping blend of light-heartedness and suspense, letting bad-ass women and dragons of advanced ages shine.
What I loved most about this book was that it made the fear of forgetting something terribly real.
I'm sure almost everyone has seen it in people they love, the second guessing, the uncertainty, the concern.
Now add a random appearance of a body in the freezer into the mix, and you've got a real conundrum where even you can't be one hundred percent certain of your own innocence.
As always, the author delivered a gripping blend of light-heartedness and suspense, letting bad-ass women and dragons of advanced ages shine.
September 24, 2021
Coming Up Roses had me laughing out loud right from the start. I'm a Beaufort Scales fan, so reading this was very much like seeing old friends again. The characters have their own individual quirks, concerns, and joys, just like physical people. And even though the ladies of the WI might have their differences with one another, they pull together when push comes to shove. That is so heartwarming - just exactly what I needed during these isolating times. Throw in dragons who don't quite understand humans but really want to, and a clever cozy mystery, and you have a perfect gem of a book!
September 5, 2022
Another wonderful adventure with those W.I. ladies of a certain age, dragons, a snarky cat, and an ever so frustrated and never caffeinated enough detective inspector.
March 27, 2023
Lost a star as I feel Miriam and Mortimer’s anxieties are becoming rather overplayed as the series progresses but all in all still an enjoyable read.
December 29, 2025
I've been having a bit of a rollercoaster ride with this book series. First book was good, second was great, then they started declining in quality, until the holiday special was pretty good and enjoyable. But unfortunately, we're back on the downhill with this entry.
In this book, Rose, the oldest member of the WI, finds a dead body in her freezer with no idea of how it got there, and she and others worry about her going senile when things in her home keep getting misplaced in increasingly bizarre places. Naturally, even though her friends have doubts, they want to believe that Rose is fine and not a murderer, so DI Adams and Collins investigate, while the WI and the dragons meddle, except that the dragons are told to keep their distance when a journalist from a cryptid magazine comes to Toot Hansell.
One of my main problems with this book is how barebones the story is. A lot of it is a lot of meandering and doubting, and there's honestly not that much investigating going on in general, and what little there is is made worse by, well, Alice. Do I even need to point out how much I utterly loathe this character? I still don't understand why the author had to make one of her main characters into such a horrid, unbearable, smug crone who think she's above and beyond the rest of the world. Then there's Rose, who just makes the case worse and more difficult for everyone, first by taking a long time to report the body, then by wandering away by herself without telling anyone. Adams and Collins are in fine form as usual, but I do wish Adams would just double down and arrest Alice for all her constant meddling, doing whatever the hell she wants with no consequences, thinking that the law doesn't apply to her and that Adams and Collins are braindead idiots. Alice is the kind of character who should be the victim in a mystery book. The dragons are usually a highlight, but in this book, they got downplayed, coming across as not very smart and not very helpful.
And the thing is that this may have been the most blatant case in the whole series so far in how the WI's meddling, especially Alice, tends to feel forced. Because in this book we see, clear as day, how the police actually solve the case with no help whatsoever from the WI, who instead just make everything worse with their meddling and idiotic behavior, which of course makes things devolve into sheer chaos at the end. So, because the police solved the case themselves, the WI's meddling, from start to finish, was entirely pointless. And it's not that much of a case, because despite introducing several potential suspects, the culprit is very easy to figure out from the very beginning, not just the murder, but also his gaslighting of Rose too.
The book at least had some positives. As per usual, Adams and Collins are a great duo of detectives, their personalities contrasting each other but also complimenting each other. And I like that the author continued on from something we found out last book, which is that despite his dislike of humans, Walter has grown very fond of Rose, so in this book, he becomes fiercely protective of her, trying his best to find her and make sure she's safe. We also have Ervin the journalist, who continues to grow as a character. He used to be annoying and meddlesome when we first met him, but he has had genuine character development, becoming more grounded, level-headed, nowhere near as pushy, and just as adamant of protecting the dragons as the WI, Adams and Collins. Honestly, Ervin was easily one of the most grounded and level-headed characters of this whole story.
But then there was another negative I have with this book, which is how everyone continues to treat Ervin as a nuisance despite him having proven himself trustworthy in last book and this one too. They see him protect the dragons, trying to keep them hidden from the cryptid journalist, and also save Rose's dog, but yet he gets little to no respect or appreciation for it. Plus, in the previous book, he found out about the Folk, but everyone went above and beyond to keep him from finding out about the dragons, then in this book, he already knows them. When did that happen?! Having Ervin find out about the dragons and meet them completely offscreen was a missed opportunity at a fun scenario and interaction, it was a chance gone completely to waste and a bad decision by the author. Show, author, don't tell.
Overall, while the book had some positives, it was ultimately quite underwhelming. Not horrible, but just not good. I keep giving this series a chance even when I'm not even sure it deserves that chance, Next book's synopsis at least makes it clear that it focuses on a missing person case (and a missing dragon) instead of a murder and seems to put emphasis on DI Adams as a lead. I'll give that one a chance, at least, but I think first I'll go check out the spin-off series with DI Adams as the sole main character. I need to read something without that odious hag Alice in it.
In this book, Rose, the oldest member of the WI, finds a dead body in her freezer with no idea of how it got there, and she and others worry about her going senile when things in her home keep getting misplaced in increasingly bizarre places. Naturally, even though her friends have doubts, they want to believe that Rose is fine and not a murderer, so DI Adams and Collins investigate, while the WI and the dragons meddle, except that the dragons are told to keep their distance when a journalist from a cryptid magazine comes to Toot Hansell.
One of my main problems with this book is how barebones the story is. A lot of it is a lot of meandering and doubting, and there's honestly not that much investigating going on in general, and what little there is is made worse by, well, Alice. Do I even need to point out how much I utterly loathe this character? I still don't understand why the author had to make one of her main characters into such a horrid, unbearable, smug crone who think she's above and beyond the rest of the world. Then there's Rose, who just makes the case worse and more difficult for everyone, first by taking a long time to report the body, then by wandering away by herself without telling anyone. Adams and Collins are in fine form as usual, but I do wish Adams would just double down and arrest Alice for all her constant meddling, doing whatever the hell she wants with no consequences, thinking that the law doesn't apply to her and that Adams and Collins are braindead idiots. Alice is the kind of character who should be the victim in a mystery book. The dragons are usually a highlight, but in this book, they got downplayed, coming across as not very smart and not very helpful.
And the thing is that this may have been the most blatant case in the whole series so far in how the WI's meddling, especially Alice, tends to feel forced. Because in this book we see, clear as day, how the police actually solve the case with no help whatsoever from the WI, who instead just make everything worse with their meddling and idiotic behavior, which of course makes things devolve into sheer chaos at the end. So, because the police solved the case themselves, the WI's meddling, from start to finish, was entirely pointless. And it's not that much of a case, because despite introducing several potential suspects, the culprit is very easy to figure out from the very beginning, not just the murder, but also his gaslighting of Rose too.
The book at least had some positives. As per usual, Adams and Collins are a great duo of detectives, their personalities contrasting each other but also complimenting each other. And I like that the author continued on from something we found out last book, which is that despite his dislike of humans, Walter has grown very fond of Rose, so in this book, he becomes fiercely protective of her, trying his best to find her and make sure she's safe. We also have Ervin the journalist, who continues to grow as a character. He used to be annoying and meddlesome when we first met him, but he has had genuine character development, becoming more grounded, level-headed, nowhere near as pushy, and just as adamant of protecting the dragons as the WI, Adams and Collins. Honestly, Ervin was easily one of the most grounded and level-headed characters of this whole story.
But then there was another negative I have with this book, which is how everyone continues to treat Ervin as a nuisance despite him having proven himself trustworthy in last book and this one too. They see him protect the dragons, trying to keep them hidden from the cryptid journalist, and also save Rose's dog, but yet he gets little to no respect or appreciation for it. Plus, in the previous book, he found out about the Folk, but everyone went above and beyond to keep him from finding out about the dragons, then in this book, he already knows them. When did that happen?! Having Ervin find out about the dragons and meet them completely offscreen was a missed opportunity at a fun scenario and interaction, it was a chance gone completely to waste and a bad decision by the author. Show, author, don't tell.
Overall, while the book had some positives, it was ultimately quite underwhelming. Not horrible, but just not good. I keep giving this series a chance even when I'm not even sure it deserves that chance, Next book's synopsis at least makes it clear that it focuses on a missing person case (and a missing dragon) instead of a murder and seems to put emphasis on DI Adams as a lead. I'll give that one a chance, at least, but I think first I'll go check out the spin-off series with DI Adams as the sole main character. I need to read something without that odious hag Alice in it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2021
Better with dragons
As someone says in this novel, `Everything is better with dragons' - even Cozy Crime. This is the sixth of Kim.M.Watt's books about the formidable ladies of the Toot Hansell Women's Institute and their friendship with the Cloverly dragons. In this story the emphasis is on the oldest members of the two groups - sparky octogenarian academic, Rose, and grumpy Walter, a dragon who fondly remembers the time when dragons ate people rather than cake. There is a strong central mystery - who left the body of a murdered man in Rose's freezer? Both the local police and the WI investigate this mystery but the dragons have been warned to stay out of it because there are monster-hunting journalists in the village.
There is plenty of Watt's usual comedy, mainly revolving around Rose's surprisingly exciting love life and the antics of well-meaning vegan dragon Gilbert. I've become increasingly fond of the characters in this series, especially sarcastic cat Thompson and the much-tried DI Adams and her giant invisible dog. There is a more serious core to this book. Fiercely independent Rose seems to be getting very forgetful and her friends are uncertain how to help her. Many of us are familiar with this kind of dilemma. The plot of `Coming Up Roses' may be a bit slow-moving but there is a splendidly frantic climax with all the characters assembled in the wilderness that is Rose's garden. This is a series which always leaves me wanting more, especially more cake.
As someone says in this novel, `Everything is better with dragons' - even Cozy Crime. This is the sixth of Kim.M.Watt's books about the formidable ladies of the Toot Hansell Women's Institute and their friendship with the Cloverly dragons. In this story the emphasis is on the oldest members of the two groups - sparky octogenarian academic, Rose, and grumpy Walter, a dragon who fondly remembers the time when dragons ate people rather than cake. There is a strong central mystery - who left the body of a murdered man in Rose's freezer? Both the local police and the WI investigate this mystery but the dragons have been warned to stay out of it because there are monster-hunting journalists in the village.
There is plenty of Watt's usual comedy, mainly revolving around Rose's surprisingly exciting love life and the antics of well-meaning vegan dragon Gilbert. I've become increasingly fond of the characters in this series, especially sarcastic cat Thompson and the much-tried DI Adams and her giant invisible dog. There is a more serious core to this book. Fiercely independent Rose seems to be getting very forgetful and her friends are uncertain how to help her. Many of us are familiar with this kind of dilemma. The plot of `Coming Up Roses' may be a bit slow-moving but there is a splendidly frantic climax with all the characters assembled in the wilderness that is Rose's garden. This is a series which always leaves me wanting more, especially more cake.
November 29, 2021
Kim M. Watt is one of my favorite authors, and her Beaufort Scales Cozy Mystery series is simply brilliant. Her books have dragons. And the ladies of the Toot Hansell Women's Institute. And tea. And cake. And murder and mayhem. And, very likely, more cake, because there's no such thing as too much cake...
I've raved about this series all along, and the latest entry, Coming Up Roses, is no exception. It's lovely to see "ladies of a certain age" as the crime solvers. This tale deals fairly in depth with the rather tough issue of mental decline (and the debilitating worry and fear of same), even as it presents a crackerjack mystery for the ladies of the WI to puzzle over. The dragons are in rare form as they dodge cryptid hunters while attempting to aid the WI in their investigations.
Humor, heart, and humanity (and dragonity--if that wasn't already a word, it is now, and I've just coined it) fill the pages of Coming Up Roses. Ms. Watt has developed a great cast of characters (both human and draconic), with lots of still-unrevealed backstory to some that I'm dying to learn more of. And I think Wyvrndell would love to be friends with the Cloverly Dragons. Can't ask for better than that, eh?
If you haven't started this series yet, I highly recommend it, beginning with Baking Bad (#1) and breezing your way through to #6, Coming Up Roses. You can thank me later.
I've raved about this series all along, and the latest entry, Coming Up Roses, is no exception. It's lovely to see "ladies of a certain age" as the crime solvers. This tale deals fairly in depth with the rather tough issue of mental decline (and the debilitating worry and fear of same), even as it presents a crackerjack mystery for the ladies of the WI to puzzle over. The dragons are in rare form as they dodge cryptid hunters while attempting to aid the WI in their investigations.
Humor, heart, and humanity (and dragonity--if that wasn't already a word, it is now, and I've just coined it) fill the pages of Coming Up Roses. Ms. Watt has developed a great cast of characters (both human and draconic), with lots of still-unrevealed backstory to some that I'm dying to learn more of. And I think Wyvrndell would love to be friends with the Cloverly Dragons. Can't ask for better than that, eh?
If you haven't started this series yet, I highly recommend it, beginning with Baking Bad (#1) and breezing your way through to #6, Coming Up Roses. You can thank me later.
September 26, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed another visit with the women in the village of Toots Hansell. Somehow they always manage to get themselves into trouble, much to the dismay of DI Adams.
This story concerned elderly professor Rose who thinks she is experiencing memory loss. To top that off, she finds a body in her freezer and doesn't know how it got there. Coming to her rescue are the members of the Women's Institute who cause even more distraction. Alice and Marion provide the voice of reason in the melee that ensues.
I liked that we learned more about Roses' background and Walter, the elderly dragon, features quite prominently in this story. It is a delight to revisit many of the recurring characters like Dandy, the invisible dog, Thompson, the talking cat, and all the various dragons. The story moves at a reasonable rate, the plot is convoluted enough to keep you guessing, and humor, cake, and a cuppa revive the spirit.
Looking forward to the next story in this installment.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the author. This in no way impacted my review.
This story concerned elderly professor Rose who thinks she is experiencing memory loss. To top that off, she finds a body in her freezer and doesn't know how it got there. Coming to her rescue are the members of the Women's Institute who cause even more distraction. Alice and Marion provide the voice of reason in the melee that ensues.
I liked that we learned more about Roses' background and Walter, the elderly dragon, features quite prominently in this story. It is a delight to revisit many of the recurring characters like Dandy, the invisible dog, Thompson, the talking cat, and all the various dragons. The story moves at a reasonable rate, the plot is convoluted enough to keep you guessing, and humor, cake, and a cuppa revive the spirit.
Looking forward to the next story in this installment.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the author. This in no way impacted my review.
September 29, 2021
Never too old to fly
Wow! What a ride. This entry in the quirky Beaufort Scales Mysteries is full of twists & turns, red herrings & an exciting finish. When 83 year old Rose finds a body in her chest freezer, she can't remember putting it there. Weird things have been happening to her. Things like a hunk of cheese in a drawer, objects moved around that she doesn't recall doing. When she shows the body to Miriam, DI Adams & Collins arrive to take charge. Of course, Beaufort & Mortimer want to help but there's a complication. Two disreputable reporters from a cryptid tabloid are on scene & looking for dragons not to mention Ervin from the local paper. So the dragons are banned. However, when Rose disappears, all bets are off for dragons & the WI alike. Even ancient, human hating dragon Lord Walter gets involved with the search. I like the way everyone learns that aging doesn't mean senility.
You'll fall in love with the Cloverly Dragons & the Women's Institute of Toot Hansell, Yorkshire.
Wow! What a ride. This entry in the quirky Beaufort Scales Mysteries is full of twists & turns, red herrings & an exciting finish. When 83 year old Rose finds a body in her chest freezer, she can't remember putting it there. Weird things have been happening to her. Things like a hunk of cheese in a drawer, objects moved around that she doesn't recall doing. When she shows the body to Miriam, DI Adams & Collins arrive to take charge. Of course, Beaufort & Mortimer want to help but there's a complication. Two disreputable reporters from a cryptid tabloid are on scene & looking for dragons not to mention Ervin from the local paper. So the dragons are banned. However, when Rose disappears, all bets are off for dragons & the WI alike. Even ancient, human hating dragon Lord Walter gets involved with the search. I like the way everyone learns that aging doesn't mean senility.
You'll fall in love with the Cloverly Dragons & the Women's Institute of Toot Hansell, Yorkshire.
January 12, 2022
I stumbled on this series a while back and I can't tell you how happy I am I did. Just like all the other books in the series, this one did not disappoint.
What a concept! Cozy mystery with dragons (and talking cats). Readers like me that love many different genres will absolutely be enchanted by this series. It has mystery (always a good one with many surprises), lots of humor (the chases in this book had me laugh out loud), amazing characters from the ladies of the Womens Institute to the dragons (each one with their own personality from the cranky elder to the rebel young dragon), the police detectives of Toot Hansel, Rose's bickering "boy toys", and of course the talking dragons.
Oh and for those of us who have a sweet tooth, the author always ends her books with a collection of tried and tested baking recipes. I have tried a couple of them and just like the stories, they sure do not disappoint.
What a concept! Cozy mystery with dragons (and talking cats). Readers like me that love many different genres will absolutely be enchanted by this series. It has mystery (always a good one with many surprises), lots of humor (the chases in this book had me laugh out loud), amazing characters from the ladies of the Womens Institute to the dragons (each one with their own personality from the cranky elder to the rebel young dragon), the police detectives of Toot Hansel, Rose's bickering "boy toys", and of course the talking dragons.
Oh and for those of us who have a sweet tooth, the author always ends her books with a collection of tried and tested baking recipes. I have tried a couple of them and just like the stories, they sure do not disappoint.
December 29, 2024
I don't generally care if I figure out the who-done-it of a mystery novel early on because what I really care about is how a story is told, but figuring this one out really early made some of the trains of thought about Rose coming from the perspectives of Adams and Alice a bit off. And that was everything that was wrong with this otherwise really engrossing novel. As usual, the characters were wonderful and both the setting and plot were well developed. I was surprised to like Jasmine in this one: she doesn't do any cooking and Primrose is largely out of the picture, so she wasn't just a bit of a nervous, comic character in the background this time. Rose has always been my favorite of the secondary characters and I kind of want to grow up to be her now (even more than I already did before). I'd love to read a series of adventures featuring her on a world tour or something of that sort if it ever happens.
Read
March 6, 2023If you’re looking for a gritty drama with lots of gory details, go elsewhere.
Lovers of cosy mysteries, however, will find much to enjoy in Kim Watt’s latest visit to the British countryside.
Octogenarian Rose has been finding her belongings moved about – is this the beginning of cognitive decline, or has someone (or something) been moving them? When she goes to her freezer for ice-cream and instead finds a body, the ladies of the Toot Hansell Women’s Institute, the Cloverly dragons, the long-suffering DI Adams and her (mostly) invisible dog all get involved.
There are twists and turns and red herrings galore, but virtue emerges satisfyingly triumphant.
If this is your first visit to Toot Hansell, don’t worry, you don’t need to have read the preceding books to understand what’s going on (although if you haven’t, you have further treats in store!)
Lovers of cosy mysteries, however, will find much to enjoy in Kim Watt’s latest visit to the British countryside.
Octogenarian Rose has been finding her belongings moved about – is this the beginning of cognitive decline, or has someone (or something) been moving them? When she goes to her freezer for ice-cream and instead finds a body, the ladies of the Toot Hansell Women’s Institute, the Cloverly dragons, the long-suffering DI Adams and her (mostly) invisible dog all get involved.
There are twists and turns and red herrings galore, but virtue emerges satisfyingly triumphant.
If this is your first visit to Toot Hansell, don’t worry, you don’t need to have read the preceding books to understand what’s going on (although if you haven’t, you have further treats in store!)
April 15, 2022
Love this series! Kim Watt is a terrific author and this series is such fun to read. I love dragons, and these dragons are wonderful….they drink tea, eat cake and scones, solve mysteries, and help the ladies of the Women’s Institute of Toot Hansel get out of scrapes and difficulties. If you like to curl up with amusing cozy mysteries….you will definitely like this series. So, curl up in a comfy chair with a cup of tea and enjoy a rollicking good series. There are no cliffhanger endings….but, read them in order or you will miss the backstory.
Sadly, this is the last book of the series. So, I will have to start it over sometime in the future. But, the author has another series I will try post haste.
Sadly, this is the last book of the series. So, I will have to start it over sometime in the future. But, the author has another series I will try post haste.
October 10, 2021
Sigh....
Honestly, I read slowly but I still finished the book to quickly 😮😮
Now I have to wait and see what comes next more brill Dragon's or Gobbelino 🤔🤔
I do so adore Toot Hansel, the WI, cats, dogs, Folks and the mayhem that can ensue.
This is about Rose, a murder, someone trying to convince Rose she's losing/lost her marbles and fab friends and how they look after their own.
Adorbs 💖💖💖
I did email Kim and said the real life WI should use these books as promotion to gather more to their folds. As anyone reading these fab books would always be in the lookout for Beaufort, Mortimer and the gang!
Honestly, I read slowly but I still finished the book to quickly 😮😮
Now I have to wait and see what comes next more brill Dragon's or Gobbelino 🤔🤔
I do so adore Toot Hansel, the WI, cats, dogs, Folks and the mayhem that can ensue.
This is about Rose, a murder, someone trying to convince Rose she's losing/lost her marbles and fab friends and how they look after their own.
Adorbs 💖💖💖
I did email Kim and said the real life WI should use these books as promotion to gather more to their folds. As anyone reading these fab books would always be in the lookout for Beaufort, Mortimer and the gang!
November 4, 2021
More cozy adventures in Toot Hansell
The WI ladies are helping one of their own. Rose is tiny and elderly and worried about her mind going. But she’s (probably) not a murderer. Her friends pitch in to try to keep her safe and protect their dragon friends from discovery by monster-hunting journalists. Rose has a non-monogamous romance with (at least) two men, which is treated respectfully by the author, with no jokes about elderly romance being icky and no mocking her relationship choices.
The WI ladies are helping one of their own. Rose is tiny and elderly and worried about her mind going. But she’s (probably) not a murderer. Her friends pitch in to try to keep her safe and protect their dragon friends from discovery by monster-hunting journalists. Rose has a non-monogamous romance with (at least) two men, which is treated respectfully by the author, with no jokes about elderly romance being icky and no mocking her relationship choices.
March 14, 2023
I seem to have been a bit grumpy with my book reviews this year. But I'm happy to say, I've now awarded this one a rare 5* rating. tbh I read this because I love Kim Watt's books, particularly when dragons are involved.
Oh, the chaos is off the charts in this one! WI, cryptozoologist reporters, admirers, dragons, dogs...everyone's running around trying to uncover the murderer. It's only natural when Rose is a prime suspect. Well, there was a dead body in her freezer!?
Oh, this is Toot Hansell at its zany best! The perfect pick-me-up, crazy, cozy mystery.
Oh, the chaos is off the charts in this one! WI, cryptozoologist reporters, admirers, dragons, dogs...everyone's running around trying to uncover the murderer. It's only natural when Rose is a prime suspect. Well, there was a dead body in her freezer!?
Oh, this is Toot Hansell at its zany best! The perfect pick-me-up, crazy, cozy mystery.
December 22, 2023
Loved the heart of this one! Elder care is SUCH an important issue and it was handled with grace as well as humour here. Sometimes the drama/anxieties bit gets a bit overplayed but this series has such loveliness at its core and I'm enjoying having the WI ladies fleshed out beyond our core duo of Alice and Miriam. The mystery solution was pretty obvious from the start but that doesn't bother me so much, we're all about those cosy mystery details.
December 27, 2024
Another wonderful visit to Toot Hansell and all its wonderful adventures. This was as always a fun read but with a more serious edge to it in places i felt. The author deals with subjects so deftly in a human way (sorry dragons!) although i think Mortimer would understand! What more could you want in your life, Yorkshire, tea, cake, w i investigations and dragons. Cant wait to visit again soon.
July 4, 2022
Excellent and thrilling
I have loved this whole series, and look forward to more coming out. My favourite character of course is Mortimer. Please can the WI teach him to use a mobile?
I have loved this whole series, and look forward to more coming out. My favourite character of course is Mortimer. Please can the WI teach him to use a mobile?
July 6, 2022
Love the ladies of the WI
I have enjoyed this series about women of a certain age solving crimes with dragons. They are fun stories and it’s important to read things that make you happy.
I have enjoyed this series about women of a certain age solving crimes with dragons. They are fun stories and it’s important to read things that make you happy.
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