Customer Reviews

Deadly Nightshade (Gardening Mystery)

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If Norman Rockwell had seen modern day Blossom, Oregon, he would have hosted his paintings there. The townsfolk know each other so well that no one locks doors. Native born Rachel O'Conner loves her small town and opens the Rain Country Landscaping firm rather than just join the family orchard business. Rachel believes she could never work with her hot-tempered Uncle Jack who knows everyone else is always wrong unless they agree with him. Jack's reputation for rage leads him into deep trouble when Rachel finds the murdered body of a person who just had an ugly confrontation with her uncle.

The dispute stems from the town counsel and mayor wanting to annex private land to insure developers are unable to deface the panoramic view. Some of Jack's property would be included if eminent domain is invoked. The local residents seem split down the middle as to whether Jack is capable of killing someone over a land debate. Rachel's, boy friend, the Chief of Police, brings Jack in for questioning, which leads Rachel to begin sleuthing. Her endeavor turns dangerous as a killer is not afraid to murder again.

DEADLY NIGHTSHADE is an entertaining novel about life in small town interrupted by a murder. At times, the delightful characters who inhabit Blossom overwhelm the mystery that could have been resolved earlier if not for the charming ensemble. Fans who enjoy a warm tale about small town living will gain much pleasure from Mary Freeman's novel.

Harriet Klausner

Mary Freeman's second novel in the "Gardening mysteries" series is certainly shaping-up her skills as a mystery writer. In "Deadly nightshade", we encounter Rachel once more, together with most of the characters from the previous novel "Devil's Trumpet"; although it is now two years later and some changes have taken place in Blossom: Jeff (Rachel's beau) is now the Chief of Police, and Rachel has gotten the City landscaping contract. All hell breaks loose when a City Councilman is found dead just at the place where Rachel is currently demonstrating her marvelous landscaping skills. When her temperamental uncle is actually accused of the murder, Rachel takes a personal interest in the case.

In this book the previous mistake of "guessing" the murderer's identity beforehand is corrected; and there is no way to know whodunit right up until the end of the story.

Freeman's character-handling and dialogue techniques are ever present to delight everybody once more. For gourmet and culinary gurus, I reccommend a trip to "The Bread Box", Blossom's magnificient bakery store, which makes my mouth water everytime I read about the delicacies it offers. Too bad this is fiction.

I find these mysteries delightful. The protagonist and her circle of acquaintances are charming. The gardening aspect just makes it more fun.

Although each of Mary Freeman's garden mysteries can stand alone as enjoyable fiction, knowing that I didn't have to let the characters go once I'd finished the first, second or even the third book added much to my pleasure. In my opinion, Mary Freeman's characterization is outstanding. I could see each character clearly and hear the intonation of each voice. I could imagine myself either stepping forward or making myself scarce when various characters approached. Mary Freeman gives readers a close look at small town life in rural America.

Besides writing fast paced novels that are real page turners, Mary Freeman's main character, Rachel O'Connor, showed me how to choose plants for special effects and plants that will thrive if tucked in just the right places. She showed me how to turn an unsightly patch of ground into something special with the right landscaping and care.

More mysteries, please, Mary! And will you also write a book on gardening targeted for novice gardeners?

Betty Erickson, children's writer