Customer Reviews

Acts of Violets (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 5)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When Snuggles the clown is murdered and Abby's boyfriend, hunky ex-cop Marco is the chief suspect because he was the last one seen leaving Snuggle's house, Marco asks Abby to help find the real killer. Even though she's solved some murder cases in the past, Abby is very nervous about solving this one - if she fails, Marco could go to jail. But it won't be easy, when he was a cop Marco had a run in with Snuggles (Dennis Ryson) that resulted in Marco leaving the police force. Marco also had a fist fight with Snuggles shortly before he was murdered. Abby knows that she has to work fast, Marco is the only suspect and even some of his cop friends are afraid he may be guilty. While Abby is convinced that Marco is innocent, she worries because he is keeping secrets from her: what exactly is his relationship with the attractive Trina who was threatened by Ryson and why doesn't he want her to meet his mother? As Abby gets closer to the truth her own life is in danger.

While not the best book in Kate Collins Flower Shop Mystery series, "Acts of Violets" is still a good cozy mystery. Abby's an endearing heroine willing to investigate the murder even though she is full of self-doubt. In fact, my one complaint about this book is that Abby is not as strong as usual, she is full of doubts and insecure about her relationship with Marco. She also has a propensity for unbuttoning her top button on her blouse to show off her ample cleavage, something I don't remember her doing in other books. Other characters are well developed and readers will learn more about Marco just as Abby does. There's a nice sense of humor throughout the book including a pickle parade; Abby's mother's latest art project; a funny scene in a diner; and the scene (and it's aftermath) when Abby finally does meet Marco's mother. The humor does go a bit too far - a character's lisp becomes distracting and is a bit cruel. The mystery itself is well done, although there aren't a lot of suspects. The outcome of Abby's confrontation with the murderer is neatly foreshadowed at the beginning of the book which is a nice bit of writing by Collins.

"Act of Violets" is a good cozy mystery.

Abby, Marco, and the gang are back!! I have been waiting for this book, ever since I discovered Kate Collins Flowershop Series. I in great anticipation of it, since the first 4 were a delight! I have to say that while the book is enjoyable, it feels like it is lacking something that made the first 4 so special to me. And as I was reading, I almost began to feel like Abby seemed a little desperate, so different from how I remeber her, but perhaps that was the way the author meant to portray her, since this mystery was so closely entangled with Marco. All in all, it is worth the read, and I look forward to more of Mrs. Collins books.

Book 5 in the series - the annual pickle fest, a mean clown, and Mama Salvare. The rest of the usual characters return, along with a few new ones. Abby's always had a fear of clowns, and when she is accosted by one at the pickle fest, Marco steps in. Then the clown turns up dead .. and Marco is the lead suspect. Can Abby save him?

Snuggles the Clown has been murdered!

But worst of all Abby Knight's boyfriend - tough guy bar owner, ex-cop, and private eye, Marco Salvare - has been accused of the murder. Now Abby has to pull out of the stops with her team of flower shop amateur snoops to find out the real deal before Marco ends up in the clink for good! Or before Marco's ex-flame ignites an old love torch!

ACTS OF VIOLETS is the fifth entry in author Kate Collins's delightful amateur sleuth series. The heroine is Abby Knight, a college drop out turned flower shop owner. Although Bloomers isn't exactly the Batcave and her two employees (Grace and Lottie) aren't exactly Robin and Alfred, Abby has managed to solve four previous cases involving murder.

As always, despite the fact that murder is involved, the books tone is kept light and just left of wacky. Abby puts me in mind of Janet Evanovitch's New Jersey bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum. Like Stephanie, Abby has a strange family that won't stay out of her business or personal life. Her mother is an artist who creates the most awful statues ever imagined.

In this book, Abby also has to confront Mama Salvare, Marco's pushy mother, and the power struggle between the two women is fun to watch and realistic.

Abby wouldn't ever have been involved in the murder if her boyfriend hadn't tried to take up for her against the clown. During the local Pickle Fest (a truly huge homegrown affair filled with traditions), Snuggles ends up threatening Abby after a near-mishap because she's always had a fear of clowns. Marco can't leave things alone, though, and slips off to have a quiet word with the clown.

Before everything is said and done, Snuggles is dead and even Marco's cop buddies agree that he's the prime candidate for a lead suspect. Throw in the fact that Marco had trouble with the clown while he was back on the force, and you've got a long-standing feud that might just put Marco in prison.

Abby can't have that. She hasn't quite figured out what to do with Marco (and knows even less with his mom on the scene), but she doesn't want him locked away forever either. She also doesn't want Marco's old girlfriend Trina granted any conjugal visits.

I've read earlier books in the series and enjoyed them. Abby Knight is usually a delightful heroine, full of spunk and off-the-wall ideas. Plus, it's funny to watch her start to meddle in something even after she's decided not to. But in this book Abby seems less confident than she ever has. Collins errs on the side of making Abby too much of a worrywart to amp up the stakes in the book. They were just fine without all the additional fretting.

I love the series' ancillary characters. Colm, cool Grace is - literally -grace under fire. Nothing ruffles her fathers or catches her off-stride, no matter what the world-shattering-event. Lottie - with her gigantic sons to double-down as workhorses and bodyguards - is as humorous and insightful as always.

ACTS OF VIOLETS is another fine addition to what looks like will be a long-lived series in the cozy mystery field. My wife and I both read the books and enjoy them a lot. We're looking for it to Kate Collins's next book, A ROSE FROM THE DEAD, coming out in December 2007.

A fun mystery. I enjoyed the book. It was the first I've read in this series and the main character was a little slow to warm up to but after we became aquainted I enjoyed it.

I like Kate Collins' flower shop mysteries and enjoyed this one as much as any of the others but the prolonged dialogue between Abby and the baker with lisp was not only distracting and cruel as one reviewer mentioned, it was also inconsistent. In the same sentence, there were some "s" words with "th" replacements and then other "s" words remained untouched. It was very annoying. Also, the whole dialogue was played out, and times difficult to follow and stopped being funny pretty quickly.

I really like this series and love the style of Kate Collins' writing. Very witty and entertaining read. Can't wait for the next installment!

Residents of New Chapel, Indiana enjoy the annual Pickle Fest though Abby Knight considered skipping the gala this year so that's he could sleep late. However, needing rest is not worth the cost of the wrath Maureen "Mad Mo" Knight, her mom for skipping the event. Thus Abby, owner of Bloomers Florist and her best friend Nikki Hiduke are watching the parade when Snuggles the Clown threatens her. Abby's boyfriend former Army Ranger and ex cop Marco Salvares joins them and her family, but abruptly leaves; Abby fears he will beat up Snuggles for his snarling comment.

Marco fails to return to the festivity; soon afterward, Snuggles is found literally picking daisies as someone murdered him. The police think Marco killed the clown as a witness insists they saw him leave the deceased's home just before the murder occurred. Though he had motive (insult to his girlfriend), means (his military experience), and opportunity (last seen in the victim's house) Abby knows her Marco, man of mystery, did not kill Snuggles though he behaving suspiciously. Not trusting the police to look beyond her boyfriend, she makes inquiries that place her in danger.

The fifth Flower Shop mystery (see SNIPPED IN THE BUD and DEARLY DEPOTTED, etc.) is a delightful lighthearted cozy that unlike its predecessors, which had a myriad of suspects, there is only one contender this time around. Thus Abby feels she must uncover a different motive as that seems too weak for a professional like Marco and once she finds the reason for the homicide, she assumes she will find the real culprit. Amateur sleuth fans will enjoy ACTS OF VIOLET, as Abby picks petals asking herself if he killed him; he killed him not.

Harriet Klausner

From the back of the book:

"Abby has been dating Marco --- ex-cop, bartender, and all-around hunk --- for several months when the Pickle Fest starts. But he's still a mystery to her. And after he disappears for a day, she's stunned to read in the paper: EX-COP QUESTIONED IN MAN'S DEATH. It seems the authorities have found Snuggles the Clown pushing up water-spurting daisies --- and Marco was the last person seen leaving Snuggle's house. Abby knows in her bones that he's innocent. But why, when his life is on the line, is Marco being so secretive with her? And who is the attractive woman he escorted to the Pickle Fest? To do the legwork, she'll have to delve into the eerie clown underworld, where smiles are fake and everyone has a trick up his sleeve . . ."

This series is one of my "reward" series. As a librarian, I often read books that I have assigned myself to read because I want to check them out for my students or because they have been sent to me for review. Lately, I've been feeling rather overwhelmed with all of my assigned reading which has taken away some of the joy of reading. When that happens, I reward myself with a book from a favorite series/author. The Flower Shop Mysteries is one of those series.

Like many mystery series this one follows a pattern. In this case Abby gets into trouble, gets jealous over Marco, flirts with Greg in order to pump him for information, pokes her nose into places it doesn't belong, is scolded by Grace for her behavior, and ends up in peril just before stumbling upon the solution to the mystery. For me this is a pattern that works. Reading this series is like treating yourself to a meal of all your favorite comfort foods.

What I liked about this book: I like the cast of characters. They all play well off of each other. Abby's mom is a little frustrating, but she provides quite a bit of comic relief. I enjoyed meeting Marco's mother and I'm looking forward to reading more about her. The pacing is nice and even, much like Baby Bear's porridge - just right. I also liked that though the book does follow a pattern, I was still taken by surprise by the solution. I pride myself on being able to find the solution before the sleuth does, but I also like to be taken by surprise, so long as the solution fits. This one does.

What I didn't like about this book: Some of the suspects were rather creepy: the baker who looks like Mrs. Claus and lisps and the victim's crazy neighbor. The victim himself was rather creepy. Clowns often are. Even though these were aspects I didn't particularly care for - they didn't take away from the story.

If you enjoyed the other books in this series, you will enjoy this installment. If you've just discovered this series and are worried about reading them out of order, don't. While, I generally like to read a series in order it is not strictly necessary with this series.

One of my favorite series and it never gets dull. I read this in half a day did not want to put it down at all. I was eager to see how Abby was going to clean Marco's name and I did not figure out who did the real murder till the end. A great read as always and getting ready to start the next one