Customer Reviews

Shoots to Kill (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 7)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Very few people are as happy as Abby Knight is. She gets on great with her family; her developing relationship with private investigator Marco Salvatore is strong and intense; and she loves working in her florist shop Bloomers.

Elizabeth "Libby" Blume returns to town to Abby's horror as she knows how treacherous the woman is since she babysat her as a child and tried to steal her identity. Libby asks for a job at Abby's store, but Abby says no. Instead Libby opens up an art store up the block from Bloomers that is almost identical in looks; she also manages to make herself look like Abby's twin. She interferes with Abby's relationship with Marco; causing a breakup. When Libby's mom turns up dead, everyone assumes the daughter killed her mostly due to Abby's behavior towards Libby, but evidence is lacking. Abby investigates seeking the proof although two other suspects with strong motives surface including the victim's mentally disturbed son meds he does not always take..

Kate Collins keeps getting better with each new book she writes, which is saying a lot as her backlist is top rate (see A ROSE FROM THE DEAD). The amateur sleuth investigation is fun to follow as the key characters are fully developed especially the "twins" and Marco; yet there is plenty of action filled with plausible twists. Often amusing, the fun in the tale is Abby's deep desire to prove Libby committed the homicide, but every clue leads away from the manipulative minx to other people. The Abby-Marco romantic subplot with its Libby-induced troubles adds to the heroine's need to find the proof as SHOOTS TO KILL is an entreating whodunit.

Harriet Klausner

Abby Knight is not thrilled when Elizabeth Blume returns to town. Abby babysat Elizabeth years ago which was not a happy experience and Abby doubts Elizabeth has changed much over the years. Sure enough, Elizabeth soon changes her name to Libby, dyes her hair red, and imitates Abby in many other ways. All of this is irritating, but when Libby seems to come between Abby and boyfriend Marco, Abby is furious. Even worse, Abby is a chief suspect when there is a murder. Now Abby has to solve the murder, try to win back Marco, and get Libby out of her life, all this while trying to run her flower shop!

I always enjoy my visits to Abby and her flower shop and "Shoots to Kill" is no different. This is the seventh book in the Flower Shop cozy mystery series and the characters feel like old friends at this point. It's nice to see Lottie and Grace, Abby's helpers in the flower shop, also help Abby solve the mystery, although I was less thrilled that Abby was helping Marco in his private investigating - it felt too much like Stephanie helping Ranger in Janet Evanovich's books. There is a nice sense of humor throughout the book (Abby's mother and her artistic endeavors provide most of the humor) mixed in with a sense of seriousness (Libby's brother Oliver is very troubled). Unfortunately, while author Kate Collins does her best to breathe fresh air into the plot line of someone stealing someone else's identity, (and it does provide some good plot elements involving Abby's relation with Marco), the plot line is limiting. Collins does do a good job of providing several suspects, but it's pretty easy to figure out who the killer is and it becomes a matter of figuring out how and why.

"Shoots to Kill" isn't the best book in the Flower Shop cozy mystery series, but it's still an enjoyable read.

I really like this series. Abby is a strong character and there's a lot of humor in the stories. In this one, her mother buys her own llama because she has taken up knitting as her new hobby...versus making bead jackets (beads like the kind you find on car seats!)

In this story, a girl Abby babysat for years before returns to town dressed like Abby, hair dyed red like Abby's and driving a similar yellow corvette. The girl is obviously trying to steal her identity as well as her steady boyfriend Marco. But no one believes Abby is right about the girl until there is a murder and Abby is one of the suspects.

Abby runs a florist but likes her job as amateur sleuth even better and can't help trying to find the real murderer herself.

A great female sleuth series!

Book 7 of the Flowershop mysteries - I loved it and it is my new favorite of the set (so far.) Abby's old babysitting client comes back to town, opens a shop across from Abby's flowershop on the square, cuts and dies her hair to match Abby's, even gets a Corvette like Abby's. Is it 'imitation' as flattery, or something more sinister. Cute cozy. Looking forward to book 8 in Feb 2009!

This installment is slightly longer than the previous books, which really shows in the development of the plot.

When she was younger Abby Knight was Elizabeth's babysitter. Back then Elizabeth, frustrated Abby by trying to be just like here. Elizabeth, now known as Libby is back and mothering has changed. In fact it's worse. Not only has she changed her name to resemble Abby's, but she seems bent on stealing Abby's identity as well. She's even after Abby's boyfriend Marco. But imitation really becomes the sincerest form of trouble when Abby finds herself the accused dupe in a bizarre murder plot. It's up to Abby to find the real killer and shine the light on Libby's scheme.

It's been a while since I read a book from this series. I don't know how I managed to lose track of the new books because this is a series I truly enjoy. Abby is a strong and likeable character. She even has a good relationship with her mother (though not a perfect one - anyone would find it difficult to handle the crafts that Abby's mom keeps creating for Abby to sell in the flower shop.) Abby's hunky love interest, Marco, is a delight to read about.
Even though I enjoyed this 7th installment in the series, at times it was a frustrating read - not because Collins isn't a masterful storyteller. She is. It's just that I felt Abby's frustration over the fact that everyone, including Marco and Abby's mom seemed to think Libby was harmless - that Abby should be flattered by Libby's attempts to be like Abby. Gracious people! Libby fits the bill of a horror movie stalker.

I have to admit there was some humor to the situation (though identify theft is a serious matter.) That's what I like so much about this series - the humor and light heartedness. Yes, Abby is constantly finding dead bodies or being accused of murder. Collins treats death with reverence, but still the reader doesn't finish the book feeling depressed. Besides, who wouldn't laugh at the idea of your mother purchasing a llama to live in the backyard so she can have homegrown yarn? That's just one of the crazy things she does.
If you are looking for a well thought out and humorous cozy mystery, this series is for you.

Thus being the 7th book in the series it was not my favorite one, but overall a great read. For me it was a tad bit slow on the first Chapter, after that it started to pick up and move right along. It was interesting how Libby tries to take over Abby's world and sure leaves a big mess where ever Libby goes. I am looking forward to book 8.

I love this series soo much. Starting a new one is like a really good piece of chocolate, I savor it because it doesn't last long. This time Abby is reunited with Elizabeth who is a girl she used to baby-sit for. Libby though is all grown up and back in town to wreck havoc in Abby's life. Soon she is dressing like Abby, then she is dying her hair the same color as Abby, driving a yellow convertable like Abby, opening a store across from Abby's and then trying to steal Marco away from Abby. Abby feels bad for Libby because of her domineering mother. Then that domineering mother is found dead, and Abby must help to exonerate Libby. Very fast paced and keeps you guessing until the end. I really enjoyed this book because most of the time I never know exactly what Marco's feelings are for Abby, in this book though you definitely know by the end.

Kate Collins is developing, with each book, a likeable, human protagonist--Abby. And, like the books before this one, I would recommend "Shoots to Kill" for anyone who is looking for a lighter mystery with intricate plotting and interesting characters.

The secondary characters (particularly boyfriend Marco) that make the series so enjoyable appear once again. Unfortunately, we only get a glimpse or two of Abby's family and roommate and the scenes with Marco read too much like a high school romance novel than a first rate mystery (which is why I went with 4 stars instead of 5).

The mystery itself is well played out. The clues are there for the taking and the resolution logical (a must for any good mystery reader). Collins seems to have taken extra care with her "characters used only in this book" group this time. Elizabeth/Libby is annoying; Delphi is witchy; Oliver is crazy; and Kayla is sympathetic.

Looking forward to reading number 8.

Abby Knight is back for the seventh book of A Flower Shop Mystery Series. This time Abby finds herself involved with a former charge who gradually steals Abby's life. Right away Abby feels Libby is up to no good, however everyone else thinks Abby is overreacting. Things soon turn from bad to worse when Abby is mistakenly arrested for murder. Abby thinks Libby set her up, however Abby doesn't have any proof.

Libby comes between Abby's relationship with Marco which leaves Abby no choice but to end the relationship. As Abby starts her own investigation, she finds herself, unwillingly, working with Marco. Together they try to solve the murder, while trying to avoid their feelings for each other.

Shoots to Kill is a good addition to the series. Abby Knight is an amateur sleuth with common sense. She constantly finds herself in the middle of murder investigations (sometimes she's a suspect) due to her meddling, but she means well. I would recommend this series to anyone looking for a new cozy mystery with a hint of romance.

4.5/5

What do you do when not just your ID, but your whole life, is stolen? What do you do if your friends won't believe who the culprit is? You'll have a blast following the twists and turns of this fast-paced plot, but I promise you won't guess the ending.