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Dirty Business Mystery #3
Dead Head
The talented Rosemary Harris continues to pick up steam, garner acclaim, and collect fans with her quirky, beloved Dirty Business Mystery series
Fugitive Mom. That’s the tabloid headline that rocks Springfield, Connecticut when one of the town’s favorite ladies is discovered to be an escaped convict. With a little help from the always game Lucy Cavanaugh, Paula is hired to find out which of her neighbors is a fugitive from the law and why the long-kept secret has finally come out.
Fugitive Mom. That’s the tabloid headline that rocks Springfield, Connecticut when one of the town’s favorite ladies is discovered to be an escaped convict. With a little help from the always game Lucy Cavanaugh, Paula is hired to find out which of her neighbors is a fugitive from the law and why the long-kept secret has finally come out.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
10 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Rosemary Harris
18 books56 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
ROSEMARY HARRIS has worked in marketing for Crown Publishers and American Express Travel Related Services and as a producer for Disney/ABC and WNET. She lives in New York City and Connecticut.
Series:
* Dirty Business Mystery
ROSEMARY HARRIS has worked in marketing for Crown Publishers and American Express Travel Related Services and as a producer for Disney/ABC and WNET. She lives in New York City and Connecticut.
Series:
* Dirty Business Mystery
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
September 4, 2018
Paula Holliday is a gardener for hire. She landscapes mansions, their smaller cousins and even smaller relations set outside front doors and local businesses. She also solves murders, but that’s not always her volition nor fault. Like a weed, she just happens to be in the wrong place at the right time.
When a well-to-do customer/friend asks Paula to go into business with her, all expenses paid, it seems a bit hard to believe. Then, when said friend is picked up as an 20 year escapee under alias, things start to get dicey. The husband, relying on Paula’s past accomplishments, asks for her help in finding out how his wife was found, the dice begin to roll, and not always in Paula’s favor.
Sleuthing her way into numerous threatening scenarios, she again uncovers the ills that threaten and gains another notch on her garden sheers.
When a well-to-do customer/friend asks Paula to go into business with her, all expenses paid, it seems a bit hard to believe. Then, when said friend is picked up as an 20 year escapee under alias, things start to get dicey. The husband, relying on Paula’s past accomplishments, asks for her help in finding out how his wife was found, the dice begin to roll, and not always in Paula’s favor.
Sleuthing her way into numerous threatening scenarios, she again uncovers the ills that threaten and gains another notch on her garden sheers.
February 15, 2023
This book was awful. I had to drag myself to finish.
May 27, 2019
An easy but very good mystery read. Paula Holliday was the owner and only worker for her company “Dirty Business” a gardening, landscaping, property maintenance business. It was a far cry from the high pressure office work she had left behind. Now with people cutting back and winter coming on, could she keep her business open? Now her main client has been arrested and it turns out she has been hiding behind a false identity for years. …. But was she really guilty of the first crime that caused her to be sent to prison for 20 years .. only to escape after 2 years and create a new identity for herself. Can Paula help find the truth? ……… An easy read that keeps you in suspense only to be all solved and put away in a few paragraphs. I wish there had been a bit longer story when the end came. I had to read the last few pages twice to put it all together.
February 21, 2019
I like this series from Rosemary Harris. A little plant talk, a little foolishness, a little mystery. Not as much self-loathing as a lot of cozy mysteries, too, so that's a bonus, and it's nice reading about a heroine who doesn't try to be a fashion plate. Gardening is, after all, a dirty business right? Right.
February 15, 2021
i won this brand new hard cover book.
she runs a yard business and stops at a diner alot. her friend owns the diner. they get lots of business. the landscape business isnt doing well. a rich lady wants to invest in a nursery and have her run it. but the rich lady turns out to be a girl who escaped prison and made a new life for herself. someone turned her in. her husband wants to hire the landscape lady to find out who turned her in. they are waiting to hear her sentence.
she runs a yard business and stops at a diner alot. her friend owns the diner. they get lots of business. the landscape business isnt doing well. a rich lady wants to invest in a nursery and have her run it. but the rich lady turns out to be a girl who escaped prison and made a new life for herself. someone turned her in. her husband wants to hire the landscape lady to find out who turned her in. they are waiting to hear her sentence.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2018
This is a fun book with a decent plot and interesting characters.
November 12, 2018
Really enjoyed this book!
November 29, 2018
Silly. Nursery owner also a would be PI.
July 12, 2024
good addition to the series
August 3, 2020
Paula is back in Springfield, dealing with all the local personalities. Caroline, who I really liked in the first book, is in trouble and since Paula hasn't been busy with landscaping, she's trying to help her out. The mystery was a common recycled theme, but the whodunit was much more convoluted. It was a good book, but not a great one.
May 3, 2011
Paula Holiday left the stress and grind of New York City for a “smaller and simpler life” in Springfield, CT. She runs a landscaping business, Dirty Business, helping realtors dress up the houses they’re selling and local businesses put in pretty patios. Her friend and client, Caroline Sturgis, has approached Paula about opening a business. The offer appears to good to be true and you know what they say about offers like that. When Caroline is arrested and “Monica Weithorn” is the name on everyone’s lips, Paula agrees to help get to the bottom of this identity mystery in Dead Head by Rosemary Harris.
Paula’s life in Springfield centers around the Paradise Diner — a local greasy spoon where everyone from the yuppie wives (known as the Main Street Moms) to the truck drivers passing through can stop for a good meal. The cook, Pete, has a penchant for celebrity chef cookbooks and Paula is often called on to sample his new creations. The owner, Babe, is easily my favorite character in this story. She’s a former back-up singer who once toured with the Jimmy Collins Band and now dispenses her wisdom with a slice of pie and a cup of coffee. I loved it when she told a grouchy goth waitress, “you don’t wanna be looked at, lose the nose ring and the eyebrow bolts. Otherwise, wear your freak flag proudly.” And I love the way she thinks about her life:
“Someone once told me there are only two stories: a man goes on a journey and a stranger comes to town. The first half of my life, I went on a journey. Now I’m here and the people who come to the diner are the ones who come to town.”
Paula’s friend, Caroline, may not be who everyone thought she was, and her husband asks Paula to help him get to the bottom of things. Someone played the snitch and there have been several unfamiliar faces hanging around Springfield these days. Trucker drivers, a charming man asking the Main Street Moms for real estate advice, and a priest interested in buying a garden center. One of them may have turned Caroline in, or it might be someone local. Some folks suspect Paula — she and Caroline were close — so snooping around might help to clear Paula’s name. That is, as long as it doesn’t get her killed.
This is a great little cozy mystery. Cozies are the kind of stories that take place in small towns, with nice folks that remind you a bit of your neighbors. There’s usually not a lot of violence or sex, certainly nothing too explicit. Which means, of course, they are missing a lot of the things I really like in my mysteries! But there is definitely a place for a more sedate story, especially when it comes with such entertaining characters.
Originally posted on my website, AliveontheShelves.com.
Paula’s life in Springfield centers around the Paradise Diner — a local greasy spoon where everyone from the yuppie wives (known as the Main Street Moms) to the truck drivers passing through can stop for a good meal. The cook, Pete, has a penchant for celebrity chef cookbooks and Paula is often called on to sample his new creations. The owner, Babe, is easily my favorite character in this story. She’s a former back-up singer who once toured with the Jimmy Collins Band and now dispenses her wisdom with a slice of pie and a cup of coffee. I loved it when she told a grouchy goth waitress, “you don’t wanna be looked at, lose the nose ring and the eyebrow bolts. Otherwise, wear your freak flag proudly.” And I love the way she thinks about her life:
“Someone once told me there are only two stories: a man goes on a journey and a stranger comes to town. The first half of my life, I went on a journey. Now I’m here and the people who come to the diner are the ones who come to town.”
Paula’s friend, Caroline, may not be who everyone thought she was, and her husband asks Paula to help him get to the bottom of things. Someone played the snitch and there have been several unfamiliar faces hanging around Springfield these days. Trucker drivers, a charming man asking the Main Street Moms for real estate advice, and a priest interested in buying a garden center. One of them may have turned Caroline in, or it might be someone local. Some folks suspect Paula — she and Caroline were close — so snooping around might help to clear Paula’s name. That is, as long as it doesn’t get her killed.
This is a great little cozy mystery. Cozies are the kind of stories that take place in small towns, with nice folks that remind you a bit of your neighbors. There’s usually not a lot of violence or sex, certainly nothing too explicit. Which means, of course, they are missing a lot of the things I really like in my mysteries! But there is definitely a place for a more sedate story, especially when it comes with such entertaining characters.
Originally posted on my website, AliveontheShelves.com.
May 31, 2015
Inhalt
Paula Holliday ist Gärtnerin mit Leib und Seele und betreibt daher gerne ihr Dirty Buisness. In der Gartenarbeit geht sie auf und genießt wie ihre Kinder wachsen und gedeihen. Allerdings ist Paula auch realistisch was das Geschäft angeht. In dem ländlichen Ort Springfield gibt es genug Konkurrenz und im Winter leider nicht so viele lukrative Geschäfte. Da kommt ihr der Vorschlag von Caroline Sturgis ein gemeinsames Geschäft aufzuziehen gerade recht. Aber noch bevor die Verhandlungen in die heiße Phase gelangen, wird Caroline, die bis dato eine respektable Vorstadtfrau war, plötzlich verhaftet und als gefährliche Kriminelle gebrandmarkt. Caroline die eigentlich Monica heißt und seit zwanzig Jahren gesucht wird, ist das Thema überhaupt in Springfield. Paula und auch Caroline´s Ehemann können es kaum glauben und versuchen der Wahrheit auf die Spur zu kommen. Ein gefährliches Spiel aus Rache und Betrug beginnt.
Rezension
Das ist eine Autorin deren Namen ich mir definitiv merken werde. Vorab zur Info: Dies ist Band Zwei (Band 3 im englischen Original "Dead Head"). Der erste Band hieß Der weiße Garten. Diesen habe ich bisher nicht gelesen, werde es aber definitiv nachholen. Davon abgesehen, konnte ich das Buch ohne Vorkenntnisse genießen.
Der Roman wird aus der Sicht von Paula Holliday erzählt. Sie ist ursprünglich aus New York und somit eine Großstadtpflanze, kam aber nach Springfield und lebt dort als Gärtnerin aus Leidenschaft. Als Caroline festgenommen wird, hat sich zweifel an ihrer Schuld und begibt sich auf Spurensuche. Dies tut sie mit ihrem ganz eigenen Charme und Humor. Aber auch mit Wagemut und manchmal etwas Verrücktheit. Dies machte sie mir umso sympathischer. Ich habe an einigen Stellen wirklich arg schmunzeln müssen und manchmal mit dem Kopf geschüttelt. Es ist einerseits sehr amüsant und andererseits wirklich spannend und interessant wie Paula die Indizien zusammensucht und kombiniert. Dabei wird mit der Polizei geflirtet, mit Fremden geschnackt und mit den Frauen der Vorstadt Rat gehalten.
Mir hat das Buch wirklich sehr gut gefallen: Die Spannung und der Humor haben mich überzeugt und ich werde auf jedenfall Band 1 noch lesen. Für Krimifans mit einer humoristischen Ader sehr empfehlenswert!
Paula Holliday ist Gärtnerin mit Leib und Seele und betreibt daher gerne ihr Dirty Buisness. In der Gartenarbeit geht sie auf und genießt wie ihre Kinder wachsen und gedeihen. Allerdings ist Paula auch realistisch was das Geschäft angeht. In dem ländlichen Ort Springfield gibt es genug Konkurrenz und im Winter leider nicht so viele lukrative Geschäfte. Da kommt ihr der Vorschlag von Caroline Sturgis ein gemeinsames Geschäft aufzuziehen gerade recht. Aber noch bevor die Verhandlungen in die heiße Phase gelangen, wird Caroline, die bis dato eine respektable Vorstadtfrau war, plötzlich verhaftet und als gefährliche Kriminelle gebrandmarkt. Caroline die eigentlich Monica heißt und seit zwanzig Jahren gesucht wird, ist das Thema überhaupt in Springfield. Paula und auch Caroline´s Ehemann können es kaum glauben und versuchen der Wahrheit auf die Spur zu kommen. Ein gefährliches Spiel aus Rache und Betrug beginnt.
Rezension
Das ist eine Autorin deren Namen ich mir definitiv merken werde. Vorab zur Info: Dies ist Band Zwei (Band 3 im englischen Original "Dead Head"). Der erste Band hieß Der weiße Garten. Diesen habe ich bisher nicht gelesen, werde es aber definitiv nachholen. Davon abgesehen, konnte ich das Buch ohne Vorkenntnisse genießen.
Der Roman wird aus der Sicht von Paula Holliday erzählt. Sie ist ursprünglich aus New York und somit eine Großstadtpflanze, kam aber nach Springfield und lebt dort als Gärtnerin aus Leidenschaft. Als Caroline festgenommen wird, hat sich zweifel an ihrer Schuld und begibt sich auf Spurensuche. Dies tut sie mit ihrem ganz eigenen Charme und Humor. Aber auch mit Wagemut und manchmal etwas Verrücktheit. Dies machte sie mir umso sympathischer. Ich habe an einigen Stellen wirklich arg schmunzeln müssen und manchmal mit dem Kopf geschüttelt. Es ist einerseits sehr amüsant und andererseits wirklich spannend und interessant wie Paula die Indizien zusammensucht und kombiniert. Dabei wird mit der Polizei geflirtet, mit Fremden geschnackt und mit den Frauen der Vorstadt Rat gehalten.
Mir hat das Buch wirklich sehr gut gefallen: Die Spannung und der Humor haben mich überzeugt und ich werde auf jedenfall Band 1 noch lesen. Für Krimifans mit einer humoristischen Ader sehr empfehlenswert!
August 3, 2012
Paula to the rescue, August 3, 2012
By Ellen Rappaport (Florida)
This review is from: Dead Head: A Dirty Business Mystery (Dirty Business Mysteries) (Hardcover)
This is the continuation of the Dirty Business mystery series, which I had grown to love from the first of the series "Pushing Up Daisies".
Paula's relationships with Babe (owner of the Paradise Diner), Mike O' Malley (Sergeant at the local police dept.)and Lucy Cavanaugh (Paula's bff and journalist) have really begun to grow. Their interactions appear to be believable to me the reader. I enjoyed their ability to feed off of one another in searching out the clues in order to uncover the truth behind Caroline Sturgis' past.
Caroline Sturgis has been living a lie for decades due to an arrest when she was a teenager. All these years she has been Caroline Sturgis-housewife and mother, successful business woman and all around likable person. Until,suddenly, she is arrested for being Monica Jane Weithorn the fugitive. Grant, Monica/Caroline's husband, calls on Paula for help in getting to the bottom of this dilemna.
And then the search begins and so does this wonderful story. It's a story of friendships growing and friends working together in coming to the aide of a mutual friend.
I love so many things about this series but I'll just name a few. The length of the chapters are perfect. They kept me reading and glued to the story line. The length of the book was just right for me. I know if I enjoy the book I can read through it in a few days or less. The characters are believable and , as I stated before, their relationships are growing.
I Highly recommend this book to all cozy lovers.
Ellen
By Ellen Rappaport (Florida)
This review is from: Dead Head: A Dirty Business Mystery (Dirty Business Mysteries) (Hardcover)
This is the continuation of the Dirty Business mystery series, which I had grown to love from the first of the series "Pushing Up Daisies".
Paula's relationships with Babe (owner of the Paradise Diner), Mike O' Malley (Sergeant at the local police dept.)and Lucy Cavanaugh (Paula's bff and journalist) have really begun to grow. Their interactions appear to be believable to me the reader. I enjoyed their ability to feed off of one another in searching out the clues in order to uncover the truth behind Caroline Sturgis' past.
Caroline Sturgis has been living a lie for decades due to an arrest when she was a teenager. All these years she has been Caroline Sturgis-housewife and mother, successful business woman and all around likable person. Until,suddenly, she is arrested for being Monica Jane Weithorn the fugitive. Grant, Monica/Caroline's husband, calls on Paula for help in getting to the bottom of this dilemna.
And then the search begins and so does this wonderful story. It's a story of friendships growing and friends working together in coming to the aide of a mutual friend.
I love so many things about this series but I'll just name a few. The length of the chapters are perfect. They kept me reading and glued to the story line. The length of the book was just right for me. I know if I enjoy the book I can read through it in a few days or less. The characters are believable and , as I stated before, their relationships are growing.
I Highly recommend this book to all cozy lovers.
Ellen
August 8, 2015
I won this book through the Goodreads giveaways.
A light enjoyable read. The main problem is the rushed ending.
The plot did not seem to be well thought out. I was not sure why everyone thought Caroline had their money or why the money was missing in the first place. It also did not seem plausible that our hero would trust the perpetrator so suddenly when they had only just met and lead him right into the Caroline's house. Not to mention, why Caroline's mother-in-law would send the children home alone when Caroline had mentioned her mother-in-law was trying to take their children away from them.
But if you overlook all of those thing and just accept, the ending is disappointing. We spent all this time setting up this elaborate plot and then the author wraps it up in a half dozen pages. It feels rushed. Just the scene in the garage where she has to tussle with the perpetrator could be fleshed out into half a dozen pages with some real description and suspense instead of just a few words that left me wondering exactly how she slipped the guy. Not to mention what the children thought or were doing. Exactly why did the boy decide to hit the other crook with the hockey stick? That was not clear or explained. What made them suspicious? Surely the children were traumatized by the events.
I only gave it the three stars because the continuing characters were likable and engaging. But if I were just basing the rating on the plot it would have to be two stars because it really could be a lot better and tighter. Who edited this??
A light enjoyable read. The main problem is the rushed ending.
The plot did not seem to be well thought out. I was not sure why everyone thought Caroline had their money or why the money was missing in the first place. It also did not seem plausible that our hero would trust the perpetrator so suddenly when they had only just met and lead him right into the Caroline's house. Not to mention, why Caroline's mother-in-law would send the children home alone when Caroline had mentioned her mother-in-law was trying to take their children away from them.
But if you overlook all of those thing and just accept, the ending is disappointing. We spent all this time setting up this elaborate plot and then the author wraps it up in a half dozen pages. It feels rushed. Just the scene in the garage where she has to tussle with the perpetrator could be fleshed out into half a dozen pages with some real description and suspense instead of just a few words that left me wondering exactly how she slipped the guy. Not to mention what the children thought or were doing. Exactly why did the boy decide to hit the other crook with the hockey stick? That was not clear or explained. What made them suspicious? Surely the children were traumatized by the events.
I only gave it the three stars because the continuing characters were likable and engaging. But if I were just basing the rating on the plot it would have to be two stars because it really could be a lot better and tighter. Who edited this??
January 30, 2012
My thoughts... Let me begin by saying two things. One, this is not my usual genre, I wanted to read this book solely for the cover. Second, this is book three in the Dirty Business series, which I did not realize until I was part way through the book. Keeping those things in mind, I enjoyed reading Dead Head.
While having a bit more background on the characters may have made it more personal, Harris did a brilliant job of creating a world where readers can jump in and make friends. The characters are interesting, mysterious, and witty, which creates an easy bantor between them. I was lacking a touch of romance, which was implied, but probably built up from previous books. While you could tell these characters had a history, they were easy to fall for and relate to on many levels.
Dead Head had an interesting plot full of mystery, suspicious characters, and cunning villians. I often found myself trying to solve the mystery, but was frequently derailed as new clues were revealed. The story moved at a decent pace, keeping readers engaged in the story. I occasionally found myself a bit lost in the details, but Harris did a great job of wrapping it up in the end.
If you are looking for a great mystery for a rainy day, Dead Head is a great option. There is not any offensive language or explicit scenes that will offend. Fans of the series can continue reading with book 4 in the series, Slugfest.
While having a bit more background on the characters may have made it more personal, Harris did a brilliant job of creating a world where readers can jump in and make friends. The characters are interesting, mysterious, and witty, which creates an easy bantor between them. I was lacking a touch of romance, which was implied, but probably built up from previous books. While you could tell these characters had a history, they were easy to fall for and relate to on many levels.
Dead Head had an interesting plot full of mystery, suspicious characters, and cunning villians. I often found myself trying to solve the mystery, but was frequently derailed as new clues were revealed. The story moved at a decent pace, keeping readers engaged in the story. I occasionally found myself a bit lost in the details, but Harris did a great job of wrapping it up in the end.
If you are looking for a great mystery for a rainy day, Dead Head is a great option. There is not any offensive language or explicit scenes that will offend. Fans of the series can continue reading with book 4 in the series, Slugfest.
April 12, 2011
DEAD HEAD by Rosemary Harris is an intriguing contemporary cozy mystery set in present day Connecticut. It is the third in "Dirty Business Mystery",but can be read as a stand alone. Book One,"Pushing Up Daisies,Book Two, "The Big Dirt Nap". It is written with depth and details.The characters are witty,intriguing,and love capture your heart. The plot is easy to follow and believable.It has a fugitive from justice,murder,female gardener's, mystery,suspense,Paula Holliday,a wise cracking amateur sleuth,unraveling the past,and finding justice. This is a fast paced story that will have you laughing in some parts and crying in others. It is a fresh look into mystery/murder with a female sleuth,friends,and of course a little dirty business.This is not just an amateur sleuth book but it also has a little romance,with a mix of social wit and a gutsy heroine with some very offbeat characters.If you enjoy a cozy,intelligent,story with lots of character and style this is the book for you. It will appeal to all cozy mystery readers,and some romance readers.This was a read,must read story that will leave you refreshed and in need of the next installment.This book was received for the purpose of review from the author and details can be found at Minotaur Books,A Thomas Dunne Book, an imprint of St. Martin's Publishing Group and My Book Addiction and More.
December 14, 2011
Review: Dead Head by Rosemary Harris
4 STARS
I enjoyed reading Dead Head. It is the third Dirty business mystery. I now want to go back and read the first two and look forward to the fourth one coming out soon.
Paula Holiday is a gardner and she is known to look into things sometimes. She doesn't have an office but she hangs out in a diner and does planting for it.Caroline A friend wants to go into business with her and buy the old Nursery plant business. Caroline would front the money and put it in Paula's name.
Before Paula could except Caroline was arrested for a jail break. Monica was her real name and when she was a cheerleader busted for selling drugs and got 40 years sentence. After 18 months she was on a work release job and got away.
Grant Caroline's husband had no idea that his wife had hidden such a thing from her. Grant hired Paula to find the mystery caller that turned his wife in.
Than Grant and most of the town thought it was Paula herself who turned Caroline and Paula was looseing lots of business. So to clear her name she needed to keep looking.
It was a good mystery that kept you guessing who was doing what and why.
Plus some comedy of errors. I was given this book by Rosemary and asked in exchange to give honest review.
4 STARS
I enjoyed reading Dead Head. It is the third Dirty business mystery. I now want to go back and read the first two and look forward to the fourth one coming out soon.
Paula Holiday is a gardner and she is known to look into things sometimes. She doesn't have an office but she hangs out in a diner and does planting for it.Caroline A friend wants to go into business with her and buy the old Nursery plant business. Caroline would front the money and put it in Paula's name.
Before Paula could except Caroline was arrested for a jail break. Monica was her real name and when she was a cheerleader busted for selling drugs and got 40 years sentence. After 18 months she was on a work release job and got away.
Grant Caroline's husband had no idea that his wife had hidden such a thing from her. Grant hired Paula to find the mystery caller that turned his wife in.
Than Grant and most of the town thought it was Paula herself who turned Caroline and Paula was looseing lots of business. So to clear her name she needed to keep looking.
It was a good mystery that kept you guessing who was doing what and why.
Plus some comedy of errors. I was given this book by Rosemary and asked in exchange to give honest review.
February 26, 2012
I really liked this book. It was refreshing to read a good mystery after all of the romance stuff I've been reading of late. This was a good mystery in that the woman who was put into the position of having to find the "whistle blower" that put a woman who had excaped jail as a young person and lived in the community for years with a husband and children, an entire life that was so different of that from which she had fled. The women who has to find out who did the deed of contacting the authorities as hired by the victim's husband, uses things like classreunion.com, face book, things that we use from day to day now to find people. The book kept my interest and I wanted to get to the end of it. Fun read!
From Good Reads I found this description: The talented Rosemary Harris continues to pick up steam, garner acclaim, and collect fans with her quirky, beloved Dirty Business Mystery series Fugitive Mom. That’s the tabloid headline that rocks Springfield, Connecticut when one of the town’s favorite ladies is discovered to be an escaped convict. With a little help from the always game Lucy Cavanaugh, Paula is hired to find out which of her neighbors is a fugitive from the law and why the long-kept secret has finally come out.
From Good Reads I found this description: The talented Rosemary Harris continues to pick up steam, garner acclaim, and collect fans with her quirky, beloved Dirty Business Mystery series Fugitive Mom. That’s the tabloid headline that rocks Springfield, Connecticut when one of the town’s favorite ladies is discovered to be an escaped convict. With a little help from the always game Lucy Cavanaugh, Paula is hired to find out which of her neighbors is a fugitive from the law and why the long-kept secret has finally come out.
December 11, 2011
just started reading this at 6:45am today . good so far, a lady with a gardening business, a lady running a coffee shop. a rich lady wanting to go in business with the gardening lady, who really doesnt want a partner. but then a trucker man says he thinks he recognizes the rich lady, she runs out in a panic. maybe shes with the witness relocation , when the gardener lady calls her the phone is disconnected.
i won this book by writing the author and she sent it to me, how nice is that, hardback too!
she wasnt witness protection, she had escaped from prison, she was arrested for drug crime. she married and had kids, rich husband. then the guy at teh diner saw her, i think he turned her in
her husband hired the gardener lady to see who turned her in. then he thought the gardner lady turned her in and got mad at her. so far the gardener lady didnt remember the man in the diner.
they finally figured it out, she did a stupid thing going to a dark parking lot in the middle of the night to meet the guy, of course it turned out bad
im surprised her friend lucy ended up with the cop,i thought for sure they would get to together
i won this book by writing the author and she sent it to me, how nice is that, hardback too!
she wasnt witness protection, she had escaped from prison, she was arrested for drug crime. she married and had kids, rich husband. then the guy at teh diner saw her, i think he turned her in
her husband hired the gardener lady to see who turned her in. then he thought the gardner lady turned her in and got mad at her. so far the gardener lady didnt remember the man in the diner.
they finally figured it out, she did a stupid thing going to a dark parking lot in the middle of the night to meet the guy, of course it turned out bad
im surprised her friend lucy ended up with the cop,i thought for sure they would get to together
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2011
Ms. Harris is a wonderfully entertaining writer, and you will love DEAD HEAD if you enjoy hanging out with quirky characters, laughing out loud, and don't need rough language or serious violence to have fun. The protagonist Paula -- a financially challenged landscaper -- has a tongue sharp enough to fell trees, knows where to kick aggressive males, and owns a very likeable view of the world. You will enjoy her comments on just about everything. Example: "She made disparaging remarks about my hair and alleged cup size. It went further south from there...still I stayed on the line. I was fascinated by her lung capacity. Perhaps she was a swimmer?" Sidekick Babe owns the Paradise Diner, and Babe's comments, attitude, and wisdom make your smile widen whenever the story turns back to the diner. Ms. Harris's series (this is number three) gets lumped into that popular "hobby cozy" sub-genre because Paula is a gardener, but Ms. H will work her magic regardless of your assumed tastes. Try this series.
September 24, 2013
A financially well-off woman is found, after 20-plus years, to be a fugitive from the law; and a financially hard-up landscaper/gardener finds the person who turned her in.
Carolyn is a rich suburbanite with a husband and three kids, living in a nice neighborhood in Connecticut. Then some suspicious strangers came to town and blow her cover.
Years ago Carolyn was Monica. She lived in Michigan, and she had been sentenced to 20 years in jail on drug charges. She escaped. Now, after so many years of freedom, she is taken back to jail.
Her husband wants to know who would do this to her. So who does he go to? A gardener, of course.
Paula is a landscaper/gardener. But no one’s been hiring her lately. Carolyn used to pay for her services, and they had become friends. So Paula reluctantly agrees to look into this.
The story is silly.
Carolyn is a rich suburbanite with a husband and three kids, living in a nice neighborhood in Connecticut. Then some suspicious strangers came to town and blow her cover.
Years ago Carolyn was Monica. She lived in Michigan, and she had been sentenced to 20 years in jail on drug charges. She escaped. Now, after so many years of freedom, she is taken back to jail.
Her husband wants to know who would do this to her. So who does he go to? A gardener, of course.
Paula is a landscaper/gardener. But no one’s been hiring her lately. Carolyn used to pay for her services, and they had become friends. So Paula reluctantly agrees to look into this.
The story is silly.
July 17, 2020
This is the third novel in the Dirty Business series. I don't know if reading the first two would make the characters more endearing, but I found most a little flat. The main protagonist, Paula Holliday, is an okay character, but I didn't find her to be very engaging. Her friend, Babe, is slightly interesting, but I felt not too well crafted.
The plot is okay, but seemed a little unplanned, and the conclusion definitely felt rushed. I had the feeling the author had all these loose ends to tie up and wasn't quite sure how to get there, so the story took a strange twist and ended an a bit of an abrupt note.
I'm not sure if I'd read more from the series. I think I could get to like the characters, but I need to see more colour in their lives. They seemed a little drab in this novel.
The plot is okay, but seemed a little unplanned, and the conclusion definitely felt rushed. I had the feeling the author had all these loose ends to tie up and wasn't quite sure how to get there, so the story took a strange twist and ended an a bit of an abrupt note.
I'm not sure if I'd read more from the series. I think I could get to like the characters, but I need to see more colour in their lives. They seemed a little drab in this novel.
March 7, 2011
Really enjoyed this book.
I tend to gravitate to mysteries. I really like a complete story, which mysteries usually provide - a beginning, middle and end.
Having read so many, however, I am getting tired of the repetitive plots and characters. This has a jaded, woman central character, Paula Holliday, who has trouble with relationships with men, has her own profession (non-licensed landscape architect), but is has talent as an "amateur" investigator. These women are starting to become a cliche.
With that said, I really did like this book. Very interesting and complicated, but not overly so, to keep the story flowing and moving.
I tend to gravitate to mysteries. I really like a complete story, which mysteries usually provide - a beginning, middle and end.
Having read so many, however, I am getting tired of the repetitive plots and characters. This has a jaded, woman central character, Paula Holliday, who has trouble with relationships with men, has her own profession (non-licensed landscape architect), but is has talent as an "amateur" investigator. These women are starting to become a cliche.
With that said, I really did like this book. Very interesting and complicated, but not overly so, to keep the story flowing and moving.
July 11, 2010
Paula is a gardener trying to stay afloat in these hard economic times. Caroline is a member of the velvet headband brigade. Paula gets drawn into murder when Caroline is arrested. Well-written cozy mystery series.
Writing strong and true characters seems to be the author's strong point here. The only thing that irks me, and I've seen this in other cozy mystery books where a woman is the hero, is the adversarial relationship/potential romance with the local police chief/detective/sheriff. The way it is handled is never satisfactory.
Writing strong and true characters seems to be the author's strong point here. The only thing that irks me, and I've seen this in other cozy mystery books where a woman is the hero, is the adversarial relationship/potential romance with the local police chief/detective/sheriff. The way it is handled is never satisfactory.
January 2, 2011
I have really enjoyed reading The Dirty Business Mystery series. Dead Head has a great storyline and held my interest the whole way through. I think you could get away with reading Dead Head even if you haven't read the first two books in the series but knowing the background certainly enhances the story. I love the characters in this series. Rosemary Harris has created a fascinating and entertaining cast! They are the type of characters that would make an excellent movie or TV series too.
I hope that there will be more books in this series :).
I hope that there will be more books in this series :).
December 19, 2011
It's hard to resist a tag line that says "fugitive mom". As a resident of this small Connecticut town, Paula Holliday has already enjoyed some success as a sleuth in the earlier books in this series. I got a kick out of this mystery,and didn't find it a problem to enter the series with book three. Rosemary Harris has written a smart, contemporary style cozy. For those who turn up their noses as cozies because they think they always involve little old ladies and cats, think again! This is worth a look, from the mystery to the romance to the Dead! Can't wait to read Slugfest!
December 17, 2011
This is a nice cozy mystery. The third book in the series apply named "The Dirty Business Mysteries" (the protagnist is a landscape gardener) the mystery in Dear Head revolves around a woman who walked away from prison 20 years ago creating a new identity. She has just been caught and Paula Holliday, our landscape gardner tuned sleuth, is ask to find out what really happened. The plot is well-developed, the characters are believable, and the story moves at a nice pace. My only complaint is that as a gardner myself there was not that much gardening in this book.
December 29, 2011
Dead Head (Dirty Business Mystery #3) by Rosemary Harris
This series just keeps getting better. I read this in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down. Paula and cohorts are finally coming into their own skin.
Everybody has secrets and Caroline Sturgis’s are a little more interesting than most. The suburban hockey mom is an escaped convict. Whoda thunk? Paula, Lucy, Babe and Mike O’Malley are out to figure out who leaked her new identity and why.
A fun, mystery and I am running out to get Slugfest (Dirty Business Mystery #4)
This series just keeps getting better. I read this in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down. Paula and cohorts are finally coming into their own skin.
Everybody has secrets and Caroline Sturgis’s are a little more interesting than most. The suburban hockey mom is an escaped convict. Whoda thunk? Paula, Lucy, Babe and Mike O’Malley are out to figure out who leaked her new identity and why.
A fun, mystery and I am running out to get Slugfest (Dirty Business Mystery #4)
February 13, 2012
Paula, the owner of Dirty Business, a landscaping business, keeps getting tangled up in these little mysteries. In her latest adventure, a client who wants to be a business partner and friend has a secret that shocks their little town. Paula and her quirky friends are drawn into the intrigue. This is a great mystery for those of us drawn to snappy dialogue and an interesting plot more than explicit sex and violent struggles.
Ms. Harris'writing style just keeps getting better. I will be looking for the next book in the series!
Ms. Harris'writing style just keeps getting better. I will be looking for the next book in the series!
January 15, 2014
Paula Holliday, owner of Dirty Business landscaping, is keeping her head above water with her business--just. When a local well-to-do soccer mom, Caroline Sturgis, suggests that they go into business together, Paula drags her feet. She doesn't want to take on more debt, and to be honest, Caroline is just a little to fond of her afternoon drinks and never seems to finish what she starts. But Caroline has a secret, and it rocks this little Connecticut town. Fun series, with interesting characters.
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