Roots of Murder (St. Martin's Minotaur Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Janis Harrison (Author)

Book Description

Series: St. Martin's Minotaur Mysteries | Publication Date: July 15, 2000

A PERFECT ARRANGEMENT-FOR MURDER...

Now that she's a widow, and given up recreational eating, Bretta Solomon has made The Flower Shop her whole life. But for the newly svelte Bretta, the flower business in River City, Missouri, is more than just wreathes, zinnias, or roses. It's about people, joy, grief, and love. And now, it is also about murder...

Isaac Miller was a quiet Amish farmer found dead in his own field of carmine asters, baby's breath and statice. When Isaac's brother, suspicious of the authorities, asks Bretta to intervene in the investigation, she enters the world of the devout, isolated Amish, their not always-so-understanding neighbors, and a thorny patch of deals between flower growers and purveyors. Soon, Bretta knows that someone wanted something that Isaac had kept secret. But finding out what that is will mean weeding out some dangerous truths from some deadly lies-and cutting a killer down to size...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A genial balance of gardening and murder, Harrison's debut introduces River City, Mo., flower-shop owner Bretta Solomon. When Bretta is contacted by a local Amish man, Evan Miller, about his brother's unexpected death, she calls on the skills she honed with her recently deceased cop husband. Evan's brother, Isaac, was the best local flower grower, and his blooms were always in demand. Lately, Isaac had been poring over books and propagating chrysanthemums, nothing that should have resulted in his murder. With little to go on, Bretta decides to meet with those involved in the local flower trade. She discovers a greedy trucker who delivered Isaac's flowers and a peculiar broker who sold them to the shops. She is perplexed by Isaac's neighborsAone hates the Amish community, another has a wayward goat that destroyed much of their crop. As she sleuths, Bretta meets the newly elected Amish bishop, who disapproved of Isaac's use of his fertile field to grow flowers instead of wheat. All the while, Bretta also stews over the tragic death of three teenagers who drove off a dangerous curve near the Amish property. Knotting these disparate ends together, Harrison gives readers a winning look at what promises to be an intriguing cozy series marked by quick pacing, engaging characters and a touch of romance. Agent, Lori Pope of the Faith Childs Literary Agency
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Widow Bretta Solomon, owner of a flower shop in River City, MO, shows herself to be outspoken, stubborn, and rather reckless when she investigates the death of an Amish flower grower. The victim's brother asks for her help, but cultural differences still get in the way, as does a local "power" struggle over control of the victim's prize plants. Advertised as a "cozy," this first novel delivers as promised: small-town ethos, a few strange characters, mixed-up police, and a determined sleuth. Recommended for larger collections.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (July 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312975007
• ISBN-13: 978-0312975005
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #589,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like mysteries and gardening, you'll love this book!, July 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Roots of Murder (Gardening Mystery) (Hardcover)

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nevermind the Bad Critiques, March 4, 2004

By 

Temple Swann (Arkansas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roots of Murder (Gardening Mystery) (Hardcover)

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!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Believable characters and events make for great reading, August 4, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Lee' Summit, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roots of Murder (Gardening Mystery) (Hardcover)

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!!!