The Garden Club Murders

Tish Tarragon is catering a Secret Garden themed lunch at the Coleton Creek as they announce the winners of the annual Garden Club awards. Competition is stiff and so is the most disliked man in the community and winner five years running when Tish and Jules find him dead in his garden as they are being a tour of the top gardens.

While Tish has a knack for speaking with people and finding clues, she insists she is only there to cater the lunch. That’s it. No sleuthing. But a girl can’t help it if everyone seems to come to her and divulge their secrets. And since Tish isn’t on the case, she passes any relevant details on along to the sheriff so he and his team can deal with it.

As Tish gets to know the residents of Coleton Creek she meets Zadie Morris, the former queen of cosmetics that she, her mother and grandmother all revered. She also learns that many residents have just enough of history with the dead man to be suspects, but who would kill over a garden competition? That’s exactly what Tish is hoping Sheriff Reade finds out quickly.

Set in Richmond, Virginia, where I have some history myself, I can hear the accents, smell the food, and envision the scenery. As owner of Cooking the Books, Tish has a menu that takes on a literary flair with names that nod to some of the classics. It’s a cute concept and truly intriguing. The one thing I was surprised about was given all the cooking, there weren’t any recipes, which one comes to expect in a culinary cozy. But it is an enjoyable read and has enough red herrings and suspects to keep you turning the pages and trying to guess whodunit and why.

Cookin' the Books was an entertaining read. When Tish Tarragon and one of her best friends_- Jules - work a catering job at Coleton Creek SixtyPlus Community, a senior living neighborhood, the last thing they expect is to become involved in solving a murder.

Catering the luncheon/awards ceremony for the best garden at Coleton Creek, is a great opportunity for Tish to expand her literary catering business. With dishes named after famous literary characters and books, combined with lovely gardens, things are looking up. However, when the "bad boy" , (Sloane Shackleford) of the community turns up dead, the little community begins to look a lot like Peyton Place - with illicit romances and secrets everywhere! There's the bad boy, the seductress, the cosmetics queen, the grieving wife and mother and the grumpy guy! All have reasons to want Sloane planted in the ground.

I loved all the characters in the book. They were well-written and each added to the mystery. I have to admit, that I teared up at the end of the book - for two reasons. The book has a complex and enjoyable mystery, humor, friendship and tugs at your heart.

Wonder what Tish will be "Cookin' up" next!

I received an ARC, from NetGalley, for a fair and honest review of this book.

The Garden Club Murder, book 2 in the Tish Tarragon series by Amy Patricia Meade, is an excellent mystery that got even better the further I read. Ms. Meade slowly reveals a peek into the depths of each of the new characters, and for those of us who are new to the series, she provides adequate background blended into the story so that we can become part of that core group of friends. While I can not relate to the intensity the community feels about their gardens, Ms. Meade pulled me into their stories so that I could understand how important the work and the competition is to them, important enough to possibly justify murder. On the same note, I could have sworn that I had actually visited these gardens, yet the description is not excessive.
I loved that Tish was pulled into the investigation instead of tracking down each of the suspects. I always question how easily people answer questions from an outsider in amateur detective mysteries, but it is perfectly clear why each person feels the need to share with her. Her personal support community is awesome! Well before the end of the book, I felt as if I made new friends.
Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for allowing me to read an ARC of The Garden Club Murder, now I need to go back and read Cookin' the Books, the first book in the Tish Tarragon series.
#NetGalley #TheGardenClubMurder

This is the first book I have read in Amy Patricia Meade's A Tish Tarragon Mystery series and I am hooked. The depth of the character development and I was led to care about these people and the outcome of their lives. The mystery was expertly done with surprising twists and turns. There was humor to top it all off. The ending of 'The Garden Club Murder' was so poignant that it will haunt me for a long time. I hope for some resolve in another offering in the series, as soon as possible.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions express in this review are entirely my own.

THE GARDEN CLUB MURDER by Amy Patricia Meade, is the second book in the Tish Tarragon mystery series. The senior citizens preparing for their annual garden club competition and luncheon are a varied lot and not exactly who I would expect to toil in the sun and soil to create beautiful works of nature. There’s the cosmetic queen, the wealthy yet abusive businessman, the grief-stricken mother and wife, the confirmed bachelor, and the live life to the fullest woman. There is plenty of strife between the contestants, each vying to capture the coveted award from businessman Sloan Shackleford. It wasn’t much of a surprise when Sloan is found murdered in his prize-winning garden. Ms. Reade does an admirable job portraying and developing the characters, especially the protagonist, caterer Tish Tarragon, who is also owner of Cookin’ the Books Café. While she doesn’t want to investigate, the senior citizens like to gossip with her and as a result, gets involved. I like that Tish is quick to turn the information imparted to her, over to Sherriff Reade.

Assisting Tish with both the “non-investigation” and catering, is her adorable sidekick Jules (Julian) Jefferson Davis, the Channel 10 weatherman. They have a close friendship and a snappy repartee. This adds to a gentle humor that lightens the murder mystery. While I thought the pace started out slow, once the murder took place, the author’s writing tightened and the story captured my attention. There were subplot mysteries that added to the overall appeal and ramped up the emotional level. The twist at the reveal left me speechless, since I didn’t see it coming yet it added another layer of satisfaction to an entertaining read.

This was an enjoyable and lighthearted whodunit that I quickly embraced as I had to know how this was all going to end. The author did a great job in setting up the premise with plenty of suspects and clues that were planted throughout.

With a tightly woven narrative, a bounty of visual descriptors, and engaging dialogue, this multi-plot and emotionally-driven tale kept me immersed in all aspects as the author intended. And that double-twist at the end, wow, I did not see that one coming. Bravo. Bravo. Everyone played a pivotal role in how well this story was being told and the minor plot gave strength to the camaraderie that exists between Tish, Jules and MJ.

This is one of my favorite new series and I can’t wait to see where the gang cooks up next in this delightfully charming series.

A Tish Tarragon Mystery Book Two

Tish and friends are back at Cookin' The Books Cafe' and Catering. This time Tish has been hired to cater an awards luncheon with an English Secret Garden theme at the annual garden club awards ceremony.

Jules is helping out and wishing he could live in the Coleton Creeks over sixty community with all of its amenities and lovely ladies fawning all over him. But it's all business this time. As Tish tours the gardens for a bit of inspiration she instead finds a dead body. The body of a retired insurance salesman who has been the winner of the last five best garden awards. Add to that his womanizing, his harassment of women and downright hatefulness and you have a lot of motives.

Tish isn't getting involved. Right. But this time her other bestie, Mary Jo, is going through her own crisis and isn't much help in the sleuthing department. Tish doesn't even really have to work that hard at this one. People are coming out of the woodwork at this community with gossip, motives and a What??? at the end. My, my the things that go on in the retirement community. Who knew life after 60 could be so interesting!? 

I love this new series. The characters are so well done and so likeable that you can't help but fall in love with them. This is a smart, well written new series that I can not wait to see more of!

NetGalley Reviews/ September 1st 2019 by Severn House Publishers

THE GARDEN CLUB MURDER by Amy Patricia Meade, is the second book in the Tish Tarragon mystery series. I have read the first in series and highly recommend the series. Thank you to Net Galley and to the publisher for your gift of the ARC. My opinion is my own,.
Tish is successful with her " Cookin' The Books Cafe' and Catering" business. When she is offered the chance to cater a awards lunch with a garden theme she accepts. As she tours the garden at the event she finds the dead body of the previous popular winner. She knows the competition is fierce and begins to investigate with help from her friends. Soon Tish and her friends are finding that the gossip and innuendo are leading them in many directions. The retirement community hated the victim and everyone had their own reasons to want him dead.

This is a wonderful well crafted sleuth with a pleasing conclusion. I loved the cast of charcters and all were likable and added to the plot. I look forward to the next in series. I appreciate that the author features seniors in this next in series as fun active vital part of the story.

Series: A Tish Tarragon Mystery - Book 2
Author: Amy Patricia Meade
Genre: Cozy Mystery\Culinary\Garden
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Page Count: 208

The Garden Club Murder is the latest addition to the “A Tish Tarragon Mystery” series published by Severn House. This is a wonderful cozy book filled with delightful characters, beautiful descriptions of gardens anyone would want to spend time in, and a surprise ending readers will not see coming.

Tish is an unusual hero in a cozy book. She is a reluctant sleuth or so she tries to make everyone, including herself, believe. But the truth is, Tish can’t help getting involved when there is a murder to solve. Working alongside her friend, Jules, Tish finds more problems than solutions at times but also laughter and smiles. Jules is a great character who will have readers clapping in happiness and frowning at the same time.

The murder of Sloane Shackleford is not a surprise. From the very beginning of the book, readers know who the victim will be. Even though the culprit must be found, no one will mourn the loss of Sloane. He is a villain through and through. However, the killer will come as a surprise and the twist ending will leave readers emotionally distraught. The conclusion brought tears to my eyes and that isn’t easy to accomplish in a cozy book.

I enjoyed The Garden Club Murder immensely and highly recommend it to readers everywhere. It has everything readers want in a cozy book, fantastic characters, delightful settings, and twist and turns that will keep you guessing to the very last page. This book and series keep getting better and will entertain readers for years to come.

ARC provided by NetGalley

I just love this series from the literary cafe and its dishes, to the characters, and the mystery that is never quite what it seems.

I enjoyed so many things about this book/series.  Tish is a reluctant sleuth.  She can't help it if people just open up to her and she knows what questions to ask.  At least she shares all of the information with Sheriff Reade so that he can do his job and catch the criminals.  The banter between Tish and Jules (Julian) is witty and had me chuckling throughout the book...especially when Jules is talking about moving into a retirement center with an older woman!  Granted he would be renting a room, but the whole situation is comical.  There is the dog of the deceased, Biscuit, who appears to be quite charming despite the rumors about some of Biscuits deeds around the community.

The mystery is well written and I was surprised at some of the twists and turns before the conclusion of the story.  Who thought gardening could be murder, but once you learn more about the deceased you won't be surprised at his death.  I felt bad for some of the characters as their stories were revealed but I think it made them stronger in the end.

Tish does have a love interest, but I think there is someone else that could be interested in her as well.  I can't wait to see how this turns out.

Overall we give this 5 paws up!

Part of the appeal of the Tish Tarragon series is the amazing feasts that Tish creates for her clients. I love the idea of a literary caterer and the concept of doing a luncheon with a Secret Garden theme to celebrate garden club awards is so whimsical and fun. Plus – sausage rolls, scones with real clotted cream and jam and mini Yorkshire puddings *drool*! It’s always a treat to see what menus Amy Patricia Meade dreams up for her stories!

Honestly, I was daydreaming about the food while I kind of zoned out from the garden descriptions. Don’t get me wrong – the gardens sound lovely, but since I am the farthest thing from a green thumb (seriously people, plants hate me), I have almost no idea what any of the plants mentioned in the book look like so I couldn’t build a picture in my head of these (I’m assuming) stunning gardens. I could easily believe, however, that these gardeners would be ultra-competitive with each other. Ok, maybe not to the point of killing each other, but definitely competitive.

But not to worry – the gardens (kind of) take second stage once the murder (and murder-solving) starts up. After Sloane turns up murdered, there is no shortage of suspects – he was a womanizing bully who may have had some professional help with his garden. So, there were current and past girlfriends, fellow competitors, retirement community staff and ex-clients who had a motive to do away with Sloane.

Tish gets roped into the investigation, albeit unwillingly, as many of the suspects seem to be willing to open up to her. In fact, even Sheriff Clemson Reade, seems willing to share case info with her in the hopes of catching the killer.

A side story (well, three side stories) that are happening while the murder investigation is going on is the personal lives of our trio – Tish, Jules and MJ. I really loved this trio in the first book so it was nice to get a bit more into their lives (although it wasn’t really happy rainbows for everyone). The personal drama of the main characters did not detract from the main story at all but added to the dynamic of the storylines. P.S. Jules is by far my favourite character!

Tish, who is still refusing to acknowledge that gorgeous attorney Schuyler Thompson is the perfect man and may possibly be her ‘official boyfriend’, starts taking some serious steps in the romance department.

Jules, on the other hand, is feeling a bit lonely and starts to behave… shall we say, oddly? He starts hanging around the retirement home and even starts making plans to move in with one of the residents!

Meanwhile, poor MJ’s homelife is unraveling. Her husband of 20 years reveals that he’s been having an affair (with a MUCH younger woman) and wants a divorce. He seems like a jerk, basically ignoring his two kids as soon as the announcement is made and heading out of town with his girlfriend, leaving MJ to pick up the pieces.

It’s interesting that the three friends all have to deal with relationship issues, but all from VERY different standpoints. It was an emotional rollercoaster – I was happy for Tish, wanted to rage at MJ’s stupid husband and wanted to shake some sense into Jules!

Oh right, back to the mystery. Without giving anything away (I hope), let me just say that the ending was… surprising. I honestly didn’t really see this one coming (maybe I was more distracted by the trio’s personal issues than I thought!). There were tears, dear reader, TEARS. I have never, in my life, cried while reading a cozy mystery, so this was a first for me! Am I getting emotional in my old age? Perhaps, but I prefer to think it was some brilliant heart-string-tugging writing by Meade. I didn’t expect the emotions but hey, I’m glad that cozy mysteries can still surprise me like this!

Here’s hoping that there’s much more to come in The Tish Tarragon Mystery series because this is one series I’d love to read for many years to come!

*** Thank you to the author, Amy Patricia Meade, and the publisher, Severn House Publishers, for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I love this cozy series! Within the first few pages I was already smiling to see all the great characters set up in book one going about their lives and I enjoyed how the action of it all started right from the get-go. Tish continues to be a great leading protagonist in this complex web of characters. Her repeated insistence that she wasn't involved in the investigation cracked me up and, again, her nose for the truth in people doesn't disappoint.

Unlike so many cozies, this one makes it easy to remember which character is which in this new cast without overshadowing the usual group surrounding Tish. Both Mary Jo and Jules have great development in book two and I really hope Biscuit becomes a fixture of the group going forward. Tish's romantic life also evolves, not just progressing forward with one guy but also showing there's another man in the wings. Also, I just loved Zadie. I want to be her when I grow up!

This story has such a great flow to it. The descriptions of people, places, and FOOD are stunning and very immersive. It's not jumpy like so many cozies are with an overabundance of cliffhangers and unnecessary tension. It shows how masterful the author is at keeping a good pace without resorting to those aspects. The ending is perfection; there's always a little something more, a little surprise, that only Tish can see and it's so satisfying. I already can't wait for book three!


Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher Severn House, and the author Amy Patricia Meade for the opportunity to do so.