DEATH AND DAISIES

A young woman moves to Scotland to take up a strange inheritance.

Besides inheriting the cottage of her godfather, Ian MacCallister, Fiona Knox has become the 12th keeper of the magic garden of Duncreigan that goes with it. Now that her flower shop back home in Nashville has been forced out of business, she’s opened the Climbing Rose Flower Shop in the town near the cottage. For the most part, Fiona’s kindly treated by all the locals except for the minister, Quaid MacCullen, who so strongly disapproves of the magic garden and cherishes such a long-standing grudge against the family who tends it that he’s refused her entry to the church. Fortunately, Fiona has plenty of support from her new friends Presha and Raj, who own several businesses in town. And many of the parish members are angry with MacCullen for his treatment of her. So she feels she must take a hand in investigating when his body is washed up on shore. Fiona’s worked with Chief Inspector Craig before (Flowers and Foul Play, 2018, etc.), and the tentative feelings they have for each other lead him to discount her as the killer. The other suspects include Seth MacGregor, the great-nephew of Fiona’s gardener, Hamish, who’s supposed to be in medical school in Aberdeen. Seth has a notorious gambling habit, and Fiona’s seen him skulking around town. Her inquiries produce disapproving frowns from Craig and threatening letters from someone who doesn’t like her snooping. Her sleuthing helps unmask a killer and reveal some big surprises about her own life.

A surprising killer, oodles of local color, and a touch of mysticism all add up to a charming read.