Fruit of the Poisoned Tree (A Peggy Lee Garden Mystery) [Mass Market Paperback]

Joyce and Jim Lavene (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2, 2006

Everyone suspects Park Lamonte's wife killed him for the ten-million-dollar insurance policy. But Peggy, of The Potting Shed, has a growing suspicion there's more to the story-and sets out to dig up the truth.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (May 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425209679
• ISBN-13: 978-0425209677
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #307,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good read for gardners, July 18, 2006

By 

Dr. C "Dr. C" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fruit of the Poisoned Tree (A Peggy Lee Garden Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

Peggy Lee and her associates are interesting characters. Peggy is a professor of botany and a buisness owner (garden shop). Her character is well developed and has grown since Pretty Poison. There are no tricks to the plot and the botanical information is plausable. This is just a good, fast-moving detective fiction book. Pleasant readig.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Home Run!, March 5, 2007

By 

Shirley Priscilla Johnson "Author/Reviewer -... (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Fruit of the Poisoned Tree (A Peggy Lee Garden Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

I was so excited when I was asked to review the second book by authors Joyce and Jim Lavene from their series, A Peggy Lee Garden Mystery- "Fruit of the Poisoned Tree." Having read and reviewed book one of this series I was all ready hooked on it and couldn't wait to see what trouble our main character Dr. Margaret Lee, or Peggy as we all know her, was getting into this time.
Peggy is a middle-aged widowed woman who is a botanist and has exceptional knowledge of plants and the different poisons that they could produce. Peggy's life is full as she gives lectures at a local university and owns her own plant business.
Peggy's deceased husband had been a detective and to the dismay of those on the force, Peggy seems to always be involved somehow when a dead body turns up. And despite the police trying desperately to keep her out of the investigation, Peggy and her knowledge always seems to crack the case. I love it. When her friend Park dies in her arms and his wife is accused of not just his murder, but the murder of his mother, Peggy can't help but get involved. A woman has to do what she has to do!
The authors do such a fine job in bringing each and every character to life, smoothly bringing them from one book to the next where you never have to play catch-up.
The characters are brimming with personality that will make you chuckle out loud or want to give them a right hook. Peggy's antics and down to earth personality just make these books go over the top in reading enjoyment; and who could resist her lovable dog Shakespeare, her love Steve and the colorful people who work for her at her business, The Potting Shed. As in the first, the mystery that must be solved in this second book twists you around until your dizzy trying to figure it out, but why try; it's more enjoyable just to let Peggy do it.
I cannot recommend this work highly enough. It has everything, mystery, wonderful characters, sinister plot, humor and even romance. The way the authors merge plant knowledge into the storyline is great! Come on! Does it get much better than this? I am a fan for life; well done Joyce and Jim, keep-um coming!
Shirley Johnson Senior Reviewer
MidWest Book Review

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Step Backward, December 31, 2010

By 

Nora Woman "peonywoman" (northern Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fruit of the Poisoned Tree (A Peggy Lee Garden Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

I liked the first Peggy Lee mystery, "Pretty Poison," well enough that I flagged the authors and saved my pennies for the next book in the series, "Fruit of the Poisoned Tree." Based on the reviews posted, I expected another solid entry in the series, one that advanced the interesting main character and secondary characters. Frankly, it doesn't. It starts out with plenty of promise, but slides off into boredom and unlikely scenarios. Mind you, there is nothing truly wrong with "Fruit," but in my opinion, it does not advance the main character, a botonist who owns a gardening shop and teaches at a local university in addition to solving murders. It is simply a run-of-the-mill mystery that reads as if the authors got a big advance, spent it, then waited until the last minute to churn out something to meet their obligations. They are talented and professional writers with interesting characters and a good knowledge of the mystery genre, but going through the motions isn't enough for me. I was particularly unhappy with the ending. A bit more time, more work on the characters and the addition of a couple more, and they could be back on track.