From Publishers Weekly
CameronAwho, the publisher says, has "authored other mysteries under another name"Abegins a series featuring a gardening enthusiast and amateur detective, Callista Bagley. Callista and her sister, Lacey, both widows, share a large Victorian house in the town of Taylor, Kans. Prim, proper and somewhat paranoid, Lacey pushes the reluctant Callie to encourage the attentions of two eligible widowers new to town, Basil "Box" Carr and Til Griffith. But Callie has more on her mind than middle-aged romance when a series of strange events occurs, culminating in the murder of an elderly relative, Hetty Bagley. Eventually, a second killing occurs and two characters go missing. Callie shows potential as a lead, but Cameron needs to improve her supporting cast, who are more often distinguished for their oddness (for example, a cross-dressing sheriff) than for their realism. The gardening tips seeded throughout the narrative are a clever ploy, echoing the inclusion of cooking tips in the ever-popular culinary mysteries; but even so, this mundane series is unlikely to harvest a wide readership. (July)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Callista Bagley, a down-in-the-dirt gardener, lives with her prim-but-ditsy sister Lacey Rogers in Taylor, KS. As rich, middle-aged widows, they have few problems, but troubles do coincide with the arrival of two possible suitorsAboth ingratiating, handsome, and new to town. When events escalate from Callista's being locked in the shed to a murder being committed behind her house after her kitchen is ransacked, Callista goes sleuthing. Plenty of gardening filler and allusions to inept local law enforcement lighten the atmosphere, as do the often humorous sisterly "fights" and the speedy prose. This first book in a new series is for undemanding readers.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
