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Hibiscus Island #1
Buried in Bougainvillea: A Hibiscus Island Mystery
Hibiscus Island has it all. Turquoise seas, bright sunshine, tropical flowers—and a body beneath the bougainvillea…
When horticulturist Holly Gold returns home to work in the gardens of the family-owned inn, she expects to enjoy the annual Bougainvillea Festival, catch up with friends and settle back into lazy island living.
Instead, she discovers a dead body in the garden, her grandfather marked as chief suspect by the handsome new police inspector, and an island seething with scandal and suspicion.
Joining forces with her childhood best friend, a bossy septuagenarian, and the town librarian to solve the case, Holly finds herself digging up long buried secrets on tiny tropical Hibiscus Island.
As she unearths clues to a crime that appears to be rooted in the past, Holly wonders if her gardening know-how will be enough to uncover a killer…
When horticulturist Holly Gold returns home to work in the gardens of the family-owned inn, she expects to enjoy the annual Bougainvillea Festival, catch up with friends and settle back into lazy island living.
Instead, she discovers a dead body in the garden, her grandfather marked as chief suspect by the handsome new police inspector, and an island seething with scandal and suspicion.
Joining forces with her childhood best friend, a bossy septuagenarian, and the town librarian to solve the case, Holly finds herself digging up long buried secrets on tiny tropical Hibiscus Island.
As she unearths clues to a crime that appears to be rooted in the past, Holly wonders if her gardening know-how will be enough to uncover a killer…
259 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2022
184 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 2, 2022
What a great read! I saw this book for free on Amazon and it sounded interesting, and I’ve got a new author to follow! Holly is originally from Hibiscus Island and has just returned after a 2-year stint away, just in time for the island’s famous Bougainvillea Festival. There’s a fierce competition for the best bougainvillea trophy and her Gramps is in contention. After arriving on a plane seated next to a really annoying lady named Amelia, who apparently writes a popular and often scathing blog, Impressions, she steps in to help out at the family Hibiscus Inn, where unfortunately, Amelia is staying! No one is really surprised when Amelia is found dead, as no one was spared her acerbic tongue. But when Gramps is a suspect, the Hibiscus Island Detective Club is back in action, much to the dismay of the new Inspector! Will he even catch on to the active community spirit here? A great mystery, with lots of twists and surprises!
June 11, 2023
2.5 - 3 really. What a relief to read a book after the last one but I digress.
I quite enjoyed this tale of horticultural hijinx in paradise. It proved that everyone, whatever their age, gender and occupation cannot resist a mystery especially when gardening is involved.
Light relief and good entertainment.
Toast
I quite enjoyed this tale of horticultural hijinx in paradise. It proved that everyone, whatever their age, gender and occupation cannot resist a mystery especially when gardening is involved.
Light relief and good entertainment.
Toast
September 23, 2022
Such a great book! The author's attention to detail and character development is 'top-notch'!!! Lucy Norman is quickly becoming my favorite Cozy Mystery Author! I did read book #2 "Remains Among the Roses" before this book, and just had to go back to fill in some of the character development that I missed in the first book. And this book didn't disappoint! I truly cannot wait until her next book in this series. This is a MUST-READ book and author!!!!
September 23, 2022
Lots to really like about this book.
This was a really good book. Being an avid gardener myself I found the information about the island and its plants fascinating. The island community sounds wonderful. All the characters were likable. The mystery itself was quite good as well. I thought I had it figured out but I was wrong!
This was a really good book. Being an avid gardener myself I found the information about the island and its plants fascinating. The island community sounds wonderful. All the characters were likable. The mystery itself was quite good as well. I thought I had it figured out but I was wrong!
July 14, 2024
A fun first book.
This is the third time I’ve read this book, and I only just realised that I never reviewed it before. I love the setting. A lovely close-knit island community where everyone knows everyone, and gossip is as plentiful as the bougainvillea. The characters are lovely. I enjoyed my time reading this. I loved the mystery, and the victim wasn’t at all who they seemed. Definitely helps to read this before continuing on with the series. Such a fun, fast paced cozy.
4 stars 🌟
This is the third time I’ve read this book, and I only just realised that I never reviewed it before. I love the setting. A lovely close-knit island community where everyone knows everyone, and gossip is as plentiful as the bougainvillea. The characters are lovely. I enjoyed my time reading this. I loved the mystery, and the victim wasn’t at all who they seemed. Definitely helps to read this before continuing on with the series. Such a fun, fast paced cozy.
4 stars 🌟
October 2, 2022
Lost interest quickly
The author painted such a negative picture of Holly in the first four chapters of the book that I quickly lost interest. I read for enjoyment and positive vibes. Authors shouldn't make their main character look so stupid. A good begi moonning to catch the reader's interest is a must.
The author painted such a negative picture of Holly in the first four chapters of the book that I quickly lost interest. I read for enjoyment and positive vibes. Authors shouldn't make their main character look so stupid. A good begi moonning to catch the reader's interest is a must.
December 26, 2024
A little murder mystery set in a fictional island vaguely based on Bermuda. A little dense in introduced characters and some twists and turns. A rather verbois segue into horticulture that seemed more like padding than adding to the character. A couple of more substantial sub plots later in the book would be good. Also set such books in real places. I think it works better. Good effort though for a first book.
September 13, 2022
For young readers. Slow moving. Cute story but for pre-teens. Not billed as such. Confusing as to where this island is located and what “mainland” they are speaking of in the book. I hurried through to find out whodunnit. Will not pursue further stories in this series.
January 11, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. I found it fascinating to read about the islands and all the plants and flowers. I also loved imaging what all those quilts looked like. I can't wait to read more from this author.
I volunteered a honest review for a copy of this book.
I volunteered a honest review for a copy of this book.
February 20, 2024
Enjoyable read
Cute story. Humorous characters and interesting plot. Anticipating reading the next book in the series. The location is a bit ambiguous in that it’s hard to pin down a general location but assume it’s somewhere in the British Caribbean area.
Cute story. Humorous characters and interesting plot. Anticipating reading the next book in the series. The location is a bit ambiguous in that it’s hard to pin down a general location but assume it’s somewhere in the British Caribbean area.
October 13, 2024
Great read and a wonderful course in Bougainvillea!
Buried in Bougainvillea was a fun and enjoyable read. The setting was easy to imagine. The characters were believable as well as likeable. The plot was intriguing. I didn't guess right. Loved the read!
Buried in Bougainvillea was a fun and enjoyable read. The setting was easy to imagine. The characters were believable as well as likeable. The plot was intriguing. I didn't guess right. Loved the read!
July 7, 2022
I really loved this book!!!! It has mystery, suspense and just a dab of romance. It will have you guessing till the end who did it!! This is a must read!!!
September 24, 2022
a thrilling but humorously written thriller
October 20, 2022
I really enjoyed this book.
October 31, 2022
This was an enjoyable book. I would recommend it for a good "summer read".
April 14, 2024
Enjoyed.
June 9, 2024
A cute, light summery read. I liked the descriptions of the flowers and the island and it is perfect for summer!
June 21, 2024
This was pretty good. Very light reading. The characters were believable and the story moved at a good base.
June 24, 2025
Not a page turner until the last few chapters, but certainly very enjoyable!
July 12, 2022
Floral Fun Pageturner
This standout debut novel from Lucy Norman was just as lovely’s the cover. Light and funny with just the right amount of intrigue. I’m looking forward to the next in the series!
This standout debut novel from Lucy Norman was just as lovely’s the cover. Light and funny with just the right amount of intrigue. I’m looking forward to the next in the series!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews