Mum's the Word (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Kate Collins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2, 2004

Abby Knight is the proud owner of her hometown flower shop, but a new low-cost competitor is killing her profits-and a black SUV just rammed her vintage Corvette in a hit-and-run. She's determined to track down the driver, but when the trail turns deadly, the next flower arrangement might be for her own funeral.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Move over Stephanie Plum. Abby Knight has come to town."
-- Denise Swanson --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Signet (November 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451213505
• ISBN-13: 978-0451213501
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 3.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #80,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kate Collins is the author of the national best-selling Flower Shop Mystery series and historical romance novels. For her mystery plots, Kate draws upon her own love of flowers and intrigue, and an intimate knowledge of life in a small college town. She states firmly for the benefit of all who live near her that none of the zany characters that populate the fictional town of New Chapel are based on people she knows. Honest.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Light, Fun Cozy Début, July 11, 2006

By 

L Smith "acozylover" (Macomb, MI) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mum's the Word (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

In the 1st book in the Flower Shop Mystery series, we meet "Bloomers" floral shop owner, Abby Knight. She has been thrown out of law school, dumped 2 months before her wedding, and is struggling to pay the bills amongst fierce competition from a discount florist nearby. However, Abby is upbeat, and is enjoying a beautiful day in her restored, yellow Corvette. That all comes to a screeching halt the moment a black SUV rams her car and takes off. Abby is determined to track down the hit-and-run driver, and make him pay for her car insurance bill. When she discovers that a murder had occurred the morning of the car crash, she is convinced that she has witnessed the killer leave the scene of the crime. She begins to investigate, and with help from ex-cop turned P.I., Marco Salvare, she pokes around in the case, and quickly becomes a target for an assassin on the rampage.

I really enjoyed the first book in the series, and completely disagree with some of the reviews that I read before picking the book up at my local library. I read a lot of cozy mysteries, and love the genre. Not everyone will, however, so if you are not a fan of cozies, I would look elsewhere, as it definitely follows the cozy style. I thought the book had an interesting setting, a likeable main character in Abby, great supporting characters in Abby's family and friends, and plenty of romantic tension. I found myself laughing aloud at times...and enjoy the fact that this series offers a bit of humor to go along with the good mystery. If you are a fan of Heather Webber, Donna Andrews, or Maddy Hunter, give this series a try.

The second book in the series is called "Slay it With Flowers". Enjoy!

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mum's The Word, July 10, 2006

By 

Sharon Lange "Mystery Lover" (Portage, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mum's the Word (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is great. I originally ordered this because it was written by someone on our area. But I was hooked right away. I zoomed thru all of these books and am anxiously awaiting the next one. My husband is on # 2 already and we have passed on this one to our daughter. These have enough funny stuff to make you laugh but the mystery really keeps you guessing. Loved them all!!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Bouquet Of Clues, February 18, 2005

By 

Beth D (Omaha, NE) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mum's the Word (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Abby Knight, law school dropout and new owner of the flower shop "Bloomers", is minding her own business, going to work when a man running out of an alley, jumps into his black SUV and rams Abby's vintage Corvette.

In her determination to find the person who wrecked her car, Abby becomes involved in a murder that happened in one of the nearby apartments. A young drug addict is murdered and Abby begins to wonder if the man she's seeking may have been the killer.

Threatening phone calls, almost fatal accidents make Abby wonder if a murderer isn't also looking for her. But is it the man in the SUV or is the husband of Pearl, who made several threatening remarks to Abby after she helped his wife leave him and found her snooping into his financial affairs.

With the help of ex-cop, Marco Salvare, Abby has to decide is the killer, the bad driver, an angry husband, or is it something more, a murder which reaches high into the local government and police officials.

Highlights:

Abby is a great character. She is so determined to find who smashed her car that looking for a murderer just seems a natural extension of that.

Marco Salvare, former cop, new bar owner, always seems to be around when Abby needs him.

Not a lot of supporting characters yet, but her employee's are interesting and more characters should be added as the series goes along.

Good mystery. Very complicated, but never cheats.

Lowlights:

Abby's flower shop. I can't see how this could possibly make any money when there's a discount flower franchise nearby.

A nice start to what could turn out to be a very good series.