Publication Date: 08/06/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Obsidian Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 336
ISBN-10: 0451415493
ISBN-13: 978-0451415493
(Received for an honest review from Obsidian Mystery)
Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound
Kate Collins on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads
Books in the series:
Mum's the Word (2004), Slay it with Flowers (2005), Dearly Depotted (2005), Snipped in the Bud (2006), Acts of Violets (2007), A Rose from the Dead (2007), Shoots to Kill (2008), Evil in Carnations (2009), Sleeping with Anemone (2009), Dirty Rotten Tendrils (2010), Night of the Living Dandelion (2011), To Catch a Leaf (2011), Nightshade on Elm Street (2012), Seed No Evil (2013)
Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.
Excerpt from Seed No Evil, courtesy of the author's website.
Synopsis:
It’s finally time to say, “I do!” As long as I can keep my mom
out of jail long enough to get her to the ceremony....
out of jail long enough to get her to the ceremony....
Someone’s Biting Mad.
Abby Knight’s wedding is in less than two weeks, and everything is going wrong. The cooler in her flower shop is leaking, her neck has swollen to unnatural proportions, her groom is acting distant, and she still doesn’t know where she’s actually getting married!
But things go from bad to worse when the director of her favorite charity, Protecting Animal Rights, is murdered, and Abby’s mother becomes the main suspect. Abby’s wedding worries will have to wait until she—along with her fiancé, Marco, and an adorable mutt named Seedy—can nose out who wanted the animal activist put to sleep. But they’ll have to sort through the long list of suspects quickly, or her mom may be tossed in the slammer before Abby tosses the bouquet....
Thoughts:
The long-lived Flower Shop mystery series continues with Seed No Evil, the fourteenth book. Author Kate Collins works with a well established cast of characters to bring readers a cleverly written cozy that will get the readers gears a turning. With everything from a long awaited wedding to a dog attack, this book is full of surprises and even some comedy relief. Collins is considered one of the best cozy writers on the market right now and new and old readers alike will find Seed No Evil a challenging and entertaining read.
Kate Collins just keeps getting better! Even though Seed No Evil is the fourteenth book in this on-going series, it hasn't gotten stale. Many cozy authors tend to stay a little too long with one set of characters. The stories play out and they become hum-drum or they are picking over the same plots. Not so with the Flower Shop Mystery series. It is probably one of favorites out right now, simply because it is always inventive and refreshing. I don't feel like any of Collins' themes are ones I have read before. Her novels are original and authentic.
I have always been a big fan of gardening and flowers in general and I am also the proud owner of three dogs. That makes this series a perfect choice for me because Collins has always had a knack for incorporating the two together in several of her books. I liked the whole animal shelter theme of the book and no-kill vs. kill shelters. Not only is Collins providing an entertaining story but she is also educating the public in a less "preachy" way about what shelter animals go through. I didn't necessarily like the idea that the victim was killed by dogs or that someone turned them on her, but being realistic it could certainly happen.
Collins does an excellent job of making her characters not only believable but also genuine. I think that is one of the reasons this series is so beloved. Her characters are people readers would like to get to know. They want to go to the wedding. Get flowers from Abby's shop or have a meal at Marco's place. The town is idyllic and the inhabitants have become friends to readers, who enjoy reading each book and going back to visit.
Fans of the series have seen the relationship between Marco and Abby from start to finish and now it's time for the big I do's. The wedding is important to readers but it does not overshadow the mystery at all. It's just a part of the bigger picture and figuring out who the killer is, is still the big pay off. I will admit I figured this one out a few chapters before the end. I had it pinned on someone else from nearly 3/4 of the book and was surprised when my theory fell apart. I thought Collins did an excellent job of leading readers down one path, while secretly setting up the real killer. In short... what a great book!
Seed No Evil is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.
I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag! (Because unfortunately my ratings didn't go any higher !)
About the Author:
Giveaway Details:
The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Seed No Evil by Kate Collins.
~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, August 30th.
1. Please leave a comment describing the flowers you have in or garden or would like to have.
2. Please fill out the FORM.
18 comments:
I have sunflowers, pansies, geraniums and roses. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
I do not have a garden but I would love to have some lilacs as they are my favorite flower
I live in the Dallas area and wish it was easier to grow roses here. The soil is not conducive to roses. I have to grow them in pots. Not the same as planting them in the ground.
I'm from Minnesota--so many beautiful flowers just don't like our cold weather. I plant mostly in pots so I can try to save some over the winter---roses are a real challenge. Petunias and marigold are old standbys and daylillies handle the cold winters.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I grow hibiscus every year .
kathambre@yahoo.com
I love flowers got lots in my garden, Like daffodils , mini sunflowers, I like them all
Love the synopsis .
I also live in the Dallas area. I tried last year when I was living in a house to have a garden. I planted, weeded and fed. Then we had horrible heat, over 100s for a very long time and I gave up. Now I am in an apartment. I miss gardening so much. Will try next year with pots.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
Gave up on flowers in the garden. If I had to try again I would have pansies.
CABWNANA1@bellsouth.net
We have some hibiscus and roses but most of the others are succulents.
We have several rose bushes, azaleas, and a couple of gorgeous lilac bushes in our yard.
tcuevas@iccable.com
I would love to be able to grow beautiful roses.
lag110 at mchsi dot com
I don't have any flowers, I don't do well at that sort of thing. But when I was little my grandpa lived with us and we had peonies, moss roses, roses and lilacs, I love lilacs.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
would like to have roses
I agree with the other commenter from MN--so many beautiful flowers just don't do so well here! I have had good success with coneflowers, this year, so I'm happy!
I don't have a garden but every spring a few tulip plants blossom in my back yard.
I would love to have a garden full of stargazer lilies! They're my absolute favorite. I also love tulips.
Lilacs, daffodils, day lilies and petunias!
I have herbs and wildflowers with gardenias and ginger, I like color and fragrance.
theresa n
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com
Post a Comment