Pushing Up Daisies
by Rosemary Harris
Thirtyish former television exec Paula Holliday relocates from New York City to sleepy Springfield, CT, determined to turn her passion for gardening into a new, less stressful career.
When an eccentric spinster dies, her landmark property is left to the local Historical Society, and Paula sees the garden’s restoration as a way to get her fledgling business off the ground. She’s prepared for everything, but not for the mummified baby she digs up her first day on the job. After a cursory investigation, the local police decide it’s an old secret, not a recent crime, so they drop the matter, but . . . Paula’s not so sure.
Casual snooping turns serious when someone is impaled on a garden tool and one of Paula’s helpers is arrested for the crime. Aided by the still-hot aging rocker who owns the local greasy spoon, a Shakespeare-quoting massage therapist, and a handsome Mexican laborer with a few secrets of his own, Paula unearths more dirt the suburban town has kept buried.
Rounding out the cast, and among the suspects, a randy Congressman and his gin-swigging mother, an amoral newspaper reporter, an octogenarian ladies’ man, childhood sweethearts reunited after 50 years, and a tattooed lady you wouldn’t want to mess with.
You can read an excerpt of the book HERE.
MY REVIEW
I had not heard of the Dirty Business Mystery series before agreeing to review it and I had no idea what I was missing! I love the main character- Paula. I love the mix of humour and mystery. I think Rosemary Harris does an excellent job of drawing the reader in.
I hate "mysteries" where I know the ending right from the start and I can honestly say that I didn't have that experience with Pushing Up Daisies. I was kept wondering right up until the end.
This was a fun mystery to read, nothing graphic or gory, nothing that kept me awake with nightmares- just a really engaging and enjoyable read.
Thanks so much to Rosemary Harris for sending me a copy of her fabulous book to review! Keep an eye out for my reviews of the other books in this series- The Big Dirt Nap and Dead Head.
When an eccentric spinster dies, her landmark property is left to the local Historical Society, and Paula sees the garden’s restoration as a way to get her fledgling business off the ground. She’s prepared for everything, but not for the mummified baby she digs up her first day on the job. After a cursory investigation, the local police decide it’s an old secret, not a recent crime, so they drop the matter, but . . . Paula’s not so sure.
Casual snooping turns serious when someone is impaled on a garden tool and one of Paula’s helpers is arrested for the crime. Aided by the still-hot aging rocker who owns the local greasy spoon, a Shakespeare-quoting massage therapist, and a handsome Mexican laborer with a few secrets of his own, Paula unearths more dirt the suburban town has kept buried.
Rounding out the cast, and among the suspects, a randy Congressman and his gin-swigging mother, an amoral newspaper reporter, an octogenarian ladies’ man, childhood sweethearts reunited after 50 years, and a tattooed lady you wouldn’t want to mess with.
You can read an excerpt of the book HERE.
MY REVIEW
I had not heard of the Dirty Business Mystery series before agreeing to review it and I had no idea what I was missing! I love the main character- Paula. I love the mix of humour and mystery. I think Rosemary Harris does an excellent job of drawing the reader in.
I hate "mysteries" where I know the ending right from the start and I can honestly say that I didn't have that experience with Pushing Up Daisies. I was kept wondering right up until the end.
This was a fun mystery to read, nothing graphic or gory, nothing that kept me awake with nightmares- just a really engaging and enjoyable read.
Thanks so much to Rosemary Harris for sending me a copy of her fabulous book to review! Keep an eye out for my reviews of the other books in this series- The Big Dirt Nap and Dead Head.
1 comment:
I used to watch the show and was sad when they took it off the air, it was highly entertaining. Plus what a clever name for a business, The Pie Hole. I guess if you bake pies, it works.
I wish I had read some of the books that accompany the show. It always make it more interesting for me.
Great review Tara!
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