Gone But Not For Garden

Athena Spencer works with her big Greek-American family (whom she also anonymously blogs about) at their garden center near Lake Michigan. She’s also gained a reputation for crime-solving, and that’s what brings flower shop owner and fellow sleuth Abby Knight Salvare to her door.

Abby has come from Indiana to this Lake Michigan town to help her cousin, Jillian, who was emceeing a local fashion show and now stands accused of murdering one of the models. Some of Sequoia’s most prominent citizens were there on the catwalk, so there’s increasing pressure to have the next event be a perp walk.

The clueless Jillian is in jail after ignoring orders not to leave town, and she isn’t happy; orange is not her color. Along with her handsome PI partner, Case, Athena starts making inquiries while tiptoeing around the wives of the town’s mayor and police chief. In the meantime, the two detectives become fast friends. After all, in addition to homicide, Abby and Athena share an interest in horticulture, though right now, the only thing they’re growing is their list of suspects.

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The Details
Series: A Goddess of Greene Street Mystery – Book #4
Author: Kate Collins
Genre/Category: Cozy – Hobby/PI
Publisher: Kensington Cozies
ISBN: 1496740025
Page Count: 368
Rating:

 

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The Review
The fourth book in the “Goddess of Greene Street Mystery” series, Gone But Not For Garden, makes a fashion show look absolutely intriguing. When a PI, Abby, shows up and enlists Athena in a new investigation, her work at the garden center gets put on the back burner. With a prime suspect, Abby’s cousin, Jillian, doesn’t help her case by defying law enforcement, alongside several members of the local law faction families as potential killers; Athena, Case, and Abby have their work cut out for them.

The garden center didn’t play as big of a role in this story as I would have liked, but it was there from time to time. Athena’s family plays a part in all the action and adds fun and laughter to the mix. I really like Abby; I hope she stays around as a character once in a while. Suspects are concentrated on those who were at the fashion show and took part; this makes it easy to track them but not so easy to figure out who the killer is. Evidence is subtle, and readers may miss some clues. There is plenty of action throughout the story. Relationships of the past become more defined, and the future looks bright for the characters and the series.

Once the killer is found, it doesn’t take Abby and Athena long to corner them and achieve justice. Readers will love Abby almost as much as they love the other characters in this series. I think many readers, like me, would love to spend a day at the garden center and their home just to watch and listen to the interactions between the family members and experience the love that they obviously have for one another. This is what makes this series special and keeps readers coming back for more.

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The Author
When not growing roots at her computer, Kate loves to garden. Other passions include yoga, travel, decorating, reading, spending time with family and friends, sampling great wines and fine dark chocolate, and enjoying every moment of life. The author lives in Northwest Indiana and Key West, Florida. Contact her through social media or her website.

Readers may enjoy other books in the “A Goddess Of Greene St. Mystery” series, such as Big Trouble In Little Greektown or Statue Of Limitations.

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