Poisoned Petals (A Peggy Lee Garden Mystery) (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Peggy Lee is just about to deliver some endangered sunflowers to Darmus Appleby when a gas explosion blows out his door-and Peggy finds her fellow botanist dead on the kitchen floor. Two weeks later his brother dies, with an overpoweringly sweet purple hyacinth tucked in his pocket. Now Peggy must follow her nose-and some cryptic clues from an internet informant-to root out a killer before he strikes again.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Reissue edition (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425215814
• ISBN-13: 978-0425215814
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 3.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #178,489 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars One of the most frustrating books I have read in a long time, July 24, 2007

By	M. C. Carter "cartertoggle" (Columbia, Md USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The initial premise is promising and the series was improving, book by book. This installment jumps from idea to idea, plot twist to more improbable plot twist and plods to the finish. None of the characters acts or reacts in any semblance of a normal fashion and with the introduction of each new character the focus turns to their reaction to the main character, Dr. Peggy Lee, rather than furthering the storyline. The problem is that Dr. Peggy Lee is unlikeable, the secondary characters' reactions are predictable and the lackluster plot unfolds like a Busby Berkeley musical....more friends, more suspects, more crazy reactions, more midnight chats with a mysterious on-line mentor...oh wait, let's throw in a love scene...here's the dopey cousin with sleep problems, the disapproving mother, the supportive but weary father, let's give Peggy a new job to obsess about. And on and on and on and on. The initial victim, is he a victim or a bad-guy?...isn't likeable and neither are any of the other characters.

The only reason I didn't put the book down in total disgust is that I was sitting in a hospital waiting room and had absolutely nothing else to occupy myself with for a couple of hours.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars delightful botany mystery, May 2, 2007

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Fiftyish Dr. Peggy Lee is coming back to life after the death of her beloved husband two years ago. Although she is still teaching at the college, her heart is with her garden shop, The Potting Shed and she has a new man in her life, Steve, a vet seven years younger than her. She wonders if she should give up teaching to work full time at the shop and as a forensic botanist consultant to the police.

While collecting endangered plants to replant in the Community Garden that is part of Feed America and led by her friend Darmus, she meets his brother Luther, who tells her he is dying of cancer. On impulse she goes to Darmus' house and smells gas; the place explodes and Darmus is declared dead. However when she looks at the corpse, she knows this is not Darmus. Luther who now heads Feed America dies a few days later. An autopsy reveals he was poisoned with the evidence pointing towards his sibling; Peggy thinks otherwise and plans to prove it.

Joyce and Jim Lavene are a fabulous team who create poignant entertaining mysteries. The investigation is cleverly plotted and potted so that readers struggle with the identity of the killer as Darmus looks guilty, but the heroine thinks otherwise; fans will wonder if she could be wrong. The support cast from her parents to her friends to her new man adds depth to a delightful botany mystery.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, June 4, 2007

By	Alice Berger "Bergers Book Reviews" (North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews

Dr. Peggy Lee didn't plan on becoming involved in a murder investigation during her family's visit, in the midst of her garden shop's busy season. But her dear friend, Darmus, has died in a terrible gas fire, followed by his brother, Luther, soon after. Now the police want to know why there was a flower in Luther's pocket, and who put it there.

Steve, her reliable new boyfriend, comes to the rescue and entertains the family while Peggy searches for clues. And her father is more perceptive than the others and insists on helping. Although she would prefer to keep the investigation to herself, she's grateful he tagged along when she gets into some tight spots.

Things are not always what they seem, as Peggy finds out from her mysterious internet friend. And her relationship with Steve is about to change in ways she never expected.

Peggy Lee is a middle-aged widow with a lot of spunk, who gets herself into situations no average woman would attempt. While her character is very well developed, this reviewer would have enjoyed getting to know several of the secondary characters a bit better, also.

Poisoned Petals blends a love of gardening with a well plotted murder mystery. It's an enjoyable and cozy read, perfectly suited for lounging in the garden on a summer day.

Muse Review Mark: Great Read

Reviewer: Alice Berger, Muse Reviews