Eight stars
First and foremost, a large thank you to Reedsy Discovery and P.J. Peterson for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Always ready for a 'cozy mystery' by P.J. Peterson, I eagerly accepted this ARC, the second novel in her newest series. Peterson presents a great mystery once more that has success woven into it. Christie O'Mara haas been enjoying running her grandmother's former flower shop and business is booming. When she does the floral work for a big wedding in town, Christie is gleeful to see how it will all turn out. However, things take a turn when one of the guests collapses at the reception. Early assumption is that one of the flowers being used at the wedding could be responsible. The drama heightens as Christie must battle bad press and seek to uncover the real mystery. Peterson does a stellar job with this piece that is sure to entertain,
After a great deal of success in their first few months, Christie's Flower Shoppe is tasked with a tropical island-themed wedding in short order, The customers are quite demanding, but have heard good things and Christie O'Mara is up for the task. At the wedding, the flowers prove to be the talk of many and the bride steals the show, at least until the reception. Panic ensues during the festivities when the groomsman's partner collapses.
Christie is in the crosshairs when someone mentions belladonna as a possible poison. While this was one of the flowers used in the arrangement, it is not the famed killer flower that many remember from British mysteries of old. Rather, it is the innocent cousin, the Naked Lady—how apt for a wedding!—that has been used. These pleas and explanations fall on deaf ears, which heightens the already tense drama.
Even though Christie knows that the flowers could not have played a part, both the family and local media beginning stirring up trouble. The ongoing accusations and the cops sniffing around, wondering about belladonna poisoning, create a means by which bad press is heightened, which could cripple this small business. Christie and some close friends begin sleuthing on their own, only to discover that the families at the wedding had a large feud related to a local nuclear plant. This is but one pivot that might explain some nefarious actions, which Christie must investigate to save her business. All comes together swiftly in this great addition to the series by P.J. Peterson
I have yet to be underwhelmed by by P.J. Peterson's writing. Her cozy writing style has left me always eager to grab anything she has published. With a strong narrative base, Peterson is able to weave a story free of violence, sex, and bloodshed while still entertaining a great deal. Peterson provides the reader with a great deal of satisfaction as they follow along to see if they can also crack the mystery wide open. The narrative allows this and does not get tied in knots, making for yet another reason to enjoy the book.
This new series creates fresh characters to handle, which Peterson introduces easily. Christie O'Mara is central, but there are many who help flavour the piece and offer their perspectives, all building on the larger themes of the story. Peterson does so without getting too gritty or leaving the reader wondering what is to come. I enjoy her character creation and development, though she has surely left a great deal for the reader to ponder as the series blossoms, if you pardon the pun.
Plot development is key, when the story is short and wants to make an impact. The ability that P.J. Paterson has to make plot twists and development matter is not lost on the attentive reader. I can only hope that more books in the series will build on the foundation set out once ore with this book. I cannot wait to see were things are headed and if Peterson has ideas blossoming in the near future.
Kudos, Madam Peterson, for another great mystery.
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