Customer Reviews

Roots of Murder (Gardening Mystery)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I found "Roots of Murder" to be a very enjoyable read, with lots of interesting characters from formerly over-weight florists to Amish farmers. The story keeps moving along, with no long dry spells like some mysteries. This book reminded me of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone series.I am looking forward to Bretta's next adventure.

Nevermind the bad critiques, folks. Janis Harrison's first Bretta Solomon mystery is a delight, even if you don't like gardening! I, personally, never understood how anyone could enjoy getting one's hands utterly filthy. But JH makes it sound like fun.
An Amish man, Isaac Miller is found murdered in his fields of beautiful flowers, these flowers which Miller sold to local florists, including Bretta Solomon. When Isaac's brother Evan asks Bretta to investigate, find out why Isaac was murdered, Bretta is just a bit reluctant at first, but then dives into the investigation, taking you along for the ride.
Having read "Lilies That Fester" first, I'm not exactly reading these in order, but I'm so excited about JH writing more; something in her books, her style of writing maybe, or maybe something in Bretta herself that makes me feel comfortable, like I've known her for a long time. Snuggle up with "Roots of Murder", a cozy in which you are sure to delight!

Harrison has written a mystery full of believable characters and events which kept me reading until I finished the book in one day. Her description of "Missouri rural life" is right on, I could see each farm as Bretta Solomon drove up to it, be it clean as the Amish or with retired machinery covered with weeds. The plot is developed and played out magnificently with excellent detail. I truly enjoyed the authors use of typical rural Missouri language "peppered" throughout the novel to make it more believable. Definitely a must read. I look forward to future readings from this author!!!

One year ago in River City, Missouri, Bretta Solomon's spouse, a police office, suffered a massive heart attack and died. Bretta turned to the florist business as a means of escaping the all-encompassing grief that still surrounds her.

Bretta and most of the townsfolk are shocked when someone murders local Amish farmer Isaac Miller, who was a prime supplier of flowers to the florist. The police think Isaac's brother Evan killed his sibling to gain control of a new breed of chrysanthemum that has off the scale major revenue potential and that the farmer was cultivating. Desperate and grieving, Evan asks Bretta to help him. She begins to make inquires only to learn that the roots of this murder run deep.

ROOTS OF MURDER is an interesting cozy that brings modern day Amish life to the forefront. The story line is crisp, as Janis Harrison lays out her who-done-it in a fine fashion that will thrill sub-genre fans. Bretta is a fascinating protagonist who is a such a complex mass of emotions that readers will feel an immediate bond with her. The audience will want Ms. Harrison to foster more novels like ROOTS OF MURDER starring a very admirable heroine.

Harriet Klausner

I bought this book on the basis of recommendations at this site as well as from DorothyL mystery list. I did not go wrong following the opinions of those readers.I found the writing to flow so smoothly that it was impossible to put down until I finished. A great read for a winter day. The characters and setting were quite realistic. Bretta is the kind of person I would like to know. The mystery was complex and clever. The only quibble I have is that for a "Gardening Mystery", there was not much depth in that area. Perhaps the series title "Florist Mystery" would not draw as many readers. I hope the characters I came to like so much will be around in a series of many more. I recommend this book without reservation to anyone loving a good mystery of the cozy variety.

Once you start reading, you can not stop. The pace of the story line keeps you reading to find out what happens next. Bretta is a very believable, inquisitive, and impetuous lady. She has the ability to draw out the best or the worst in most of the people she encounters. There are moments of high tension and moments of tenderness, splashed with unexpected humor. At some times while reading this book, you will experience a whole range of emotions, including fear. A great summer read!!!!

In the first book in the Gardening Mysteries by Janis Harrison, we meet florist shop owner, Bretta Solomon. Bretta is a widow, still trying to come to terms with the shocking death of her husband. She blames herself for not being awake during his heart attack, and avoids the bedroom in which he died. Bretta has found solace with flowers, and running her business, simply named the Flower Shop. When an Amish flower grower dies under mysterious circumstances, Bretta is summoned by his brother. With her business involvement with the Amish family, she feels responsible for helping to locate the killer. It seems improbable that the man was killed over a few flowers...was he working on something a little more lucrative? Or did someone in the Amish community have issues with him raising flowers?

I really enjoyed this first book in the series. Unlike some other reviews, I did not find the prose to be too simple. I like a straightforward book; one that isn't wordy just to fill extra pages. The action was very fast moving, and I liked the way nothing was dragged out. The ending was a bit different however. Without giving too much away, this ending didn't tie everything up in a neat bow like many other mysteries do. Having read many books, I like to see something a bit different in the new series I try. If you are fond of cozy mysteries, this would be a good series to try. Enjoy!

Roots of Murder is fun not only because of a delightful and unusual sleuth and an interesting plot, but also because of its insight into Amish lives. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Set in Missouri, author Janis Harrison offers up a cozy mystery with an interesting amalgamation of elements. Bretta Soloman is a grief stricken widow who has managed to lose 100 pounds. She also is a florist, and a good friend to an Amish man whose brother coincidentally grows flowers, but who is found with his neck broken in his field. This is a tightly written mystery cozy that cleverly weaves in different elements into a complicated solution. Ms. Harrison doesn't hesitate to deliver characters you won't like, but does manage to deliver an interesting first novel.

Fun Start of a series - the Gardening Mysteries. Bretta Solomon is a force to be reckoned with. She owns a flower shop where Lois works. This story is about the death of Isaac an Amish man that she has known for many years who is in the flower growing business.