Midsummer Mayham, Marty Wingate’s newest addition to her Potting Shed Mystery series, is an enjoyable cozy that combines murder, gardening and Shakespeare. What a combination! When a neighboring estate, complete with enormous gardens, is loaned out to a Shakespearean acting company for a short run of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Pru Parke happily agrees to help out with the set decorating. Since the play is being staged outdoors in a garden area, this is right up Pru’s alley. 

I found the book started slowly but built from there into a book that was difficult to put down. This is understandable as the entire cast and crew, as well any helpers involved with staging the play, become suspects after an obnoxious and randy actor is murdered and all need to be interviewed, at least once. Pru’s husband Christopher Pearse, a detective inspector with the local police department, is running the official investigation, but as Pru is part of the crew, she is on the spot to talk (ie, interview) to everyone involved. One niggling complaint is that occasionally Pru withholds information from her husband even as she knows she shouldn’t. While I appreciated the change of focus from a garden based cozy to one more involved with staging of a play, on some level I missed the focus on gardening, a personal interest of my own. The plotting and the resolution of the book were well done. While the killer is not too obvious, this is in part because the motives were also not as clear as maybe they could have been. 

I recommend this book for those who enjoy mysteries, especially those of the cozy variety. It is a fun read and interesting to get a backstage look of a stage production. Three and a half stars. 

I was given a free copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions stated are solely my own.

Gardener Pru Parke and has been tapped to provide scenery for a local production of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. But when one of the lead actors is killed by an allergic reaction to bees, it’s anything but a dream and it appears he was targeted and murdered. But who knew of his allergy and who would want him dead?

This is the first book in this seven book Potting Shed Mystery series that I have read and it was a great standalone. Even more, I am THRILLED to have a new (to me) series with more books that I can enjoy and catch up on. The writer’s style flows and the characters are well developed. I can’t wait to get more background on Pru and the gang!

I have read all of the earlier books in this series, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to read and review the latest one, via an advance ebook copy from NetGalley.

Transplanted Texas gardener Pru has moved to England to work in gardens, and several books ago she married a police detective and learned some previously-unknown family history. In the course of her gardening jobs she seems to always come across a dead body. Of course she does--these are murder mysteries after all! This latest story is no exception. An outdoor production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is in development, and Pru is asked to help dress the stage with live plants. Because the play is being staged on the grounds of a private estate with famous but off-limits-to-the-public gardens, she jumps at the once-in-a-lifetime chance to get a look.

In the midst of the hectic schedule of rehearsals, a rather unusual (in my reading experience, anyway) murder happens, and with the large cast of characters (literally) and the various tangled history and relationships between them, one wonders whether this will turn out to be in the tradition of the Agatha Christie story where everybody did it. No spoilers here; I will leave it to the reader to find out. A most enjoyable story.

This is the perfect cozy to read by the garden with a cup of tea. In England everything just seems so charming to me - even a murder!

Marty Wingate always provides a good read. I love the characters and even learn a bit about gardening! Again, the characters are delightful but the mystery in this story fell a bit short...the killer was too obvious from the beginning. But that didn’t take away the pleasure of hanging out with, by now, my old friends!

Pru catches the theater bug in this English garden mystery. I was given an ARC of Midsummer Mayhem by Alibi Books and Netgalley in exchange for a review. I have read other Marty Wingate mysteries featuring Pru and her detective inspector husband and enjoyed them too. This one focuses on a production of Shakespeare’ Au Naturale . In a neighboring garden. Pru is involved as a set designer when one of the actors is killed. She investigates amid all the distractions of putting on a play. It was an interesting read.

Quirky, suspenseful and quaint. This mystery is well done and attention grabbing. Prunella is a sweet lovable character.

This is all about Shakespeare Au Natural presenting A Midsummer Nights Dream an outdoor play in Coeur-de-la-Mar Priory Hall. Pru Parke a gardener was asked to be Set Director and arrange the flowers and plants for the play. Before the opening of the play Gabriel was found dead in the cottage they were using. The police was called, Pru's husband Christopher an Inspector came to investigate and interview the Cast members. There are lots of suspects and cover ups during rehearsals. Pru gets involved trying to solve the mystery of who murdered Gabriel with a lot of suspense and twists!

I received this free ebook Midsummer Mayhem from Alibi. To read and review. I really enjoyed this book with Pru, Christopher and the whole gang, as well as being introduced to new characters. I like this series that Marty Wingate has created. This book can be read alone but I would definitely recommend reading the whole A Potting Shed Mystery series you wont be disappointed to get to the main characters better. I have read all of the books in this series and it keeps getting better. The plot twist will keep you guessing, you never know what kind of trouble Pru will get herself into next. The story-line flows well. I would warn that they use some wording that you see over in England but there isn't much and doesn't deter from reading this novel.. I am looking forward to the next story in this series with author Marty Wingate.

Wonderfully written. I enjoyed reading about gardens and Shakespeare with a sprinkling of mysteries. Pru and Christopher are a lovely couple. They are a good team. Most of the characters are people we would like in real likfe. I enjoyed the lines from Shakespeare at the beginning of each chapter. This story takes place in England.

This is the first time I read a novel by Marty Wingate. Now I want to read all of the books in this series.

Full Disclosure: I am a big fan of stories that take place in England.

This is the first Potting Shed Mystery I have read and I usually do not start a series at #7. However, it was not dependent on previous knowledge and once I figured out the characters it was a fun read. I thought I knew the culprit early on, but Wingate threw in twists and turns that kept me questioning the identity. At one point I had some angst about the potential suspect and had to rush to find out if that person was guilty and if Pru was in danger. I am sure I will go back and start at #1 soon.

I adore the Potting Shed series and Pru! For me, this wasn't quite one of my favorites of the series, as the killer (SPOILER ahead) seemed to be acting uncharacteristically and suspiciously during the entire book, and also because Pru was keeping things from Christopher (her detective husband) in a way that felt forced and not believable and drawn out just for the sake of making the plot work.

I still really liked it, as I thoroughly enjoy Wingate's scene-setting and characterizations--and mystery plotting, too, of course! I just didn't think it was quite as strong as some others in the series. Nevertheless, I'll be awaiting book #8!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

law-enforcement, amateur-sleuth, actors, England, cosy-mystery

An English country house, a troupe of actors preparing for an outdoor performance of a Shakespearean play, a garden specialist with a detective inspector husband, and a devilish premeditated murder. Plenty of suspects and red herrings with some unexpected twists as well as some interpersonal intrigues. The characters are interesting and engaging, the locale inspiring, and the horticulture daunting, and the story is great. The publisher's blurb gives hints and there is no need for spoilers, just enjoy!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Random House via NetGalley

Very delightful mystery! All of the clues Pru discovers kept me guessing up until the end. I loved the idea of a Shakespearean play as the main setting! Really great read!.

In the seventh installment of the Potting Shed Mystery series, Pru and her friends are excited about an acting troupe and their upcoming performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Wingate provides an exciting plot and mixes in gardening tips and tricks throughout.

I just love visiting England with Pru, and 'Midsummer Mayhem' is no exception. Marty Wingate is genius in her ability to create a story that grabs the reader with suspense, fun and thoughtfulness. This offering in the series touches upon the production of Shakespeare in the garden of a neighboring estate, with a cast of actors that has Pru's friends thrilled. Murder ensues and opportunities for Pru to help her Inspector husband investigate create tension and catastrophe. I highly and thoroughly recommend this book, as well as the entire series.

A good cozy mystery with some of my favorite characters. A great book for the beach this summer. Lots of red herrings to keep you guessing who the villain is and a surprise ending.

If you love to garden (or not) and enjoy Shakespeare plays (or not) you will enjoy this book and its cast of characters. I think this is one of the best cozy mystery series, particularly for the author's descriptive writing and her twisting plots.

This is the first of Wingate's mysteries that I've read, but I'll be back. L:ight, entertaining. Just what I needed on a rainy day.

In Midsummer Mayhem, her 7th Potting Shed Mystery, Marty Wingate once again transports the reader to the bucolic English countryside, joining American transplant Pru Parke and her husband, DI Christopher Pearse, at Greenoak, their home. An acting company, Shakespeare au Naturel, has taken over a nearby estate with breathtaking gardens for their production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, but Lysander the lothario is found dead during rehearsals, and all is not well in the world of the bard. Pru is caught up in the investigation as she attempts to catch the killer and prevent harm to any other members of the production. An excellent cozy mystery, and although I always recommend starting at the beginning of a series, the reader can certainly start with this lovely little cozy mystery, which is quite an enjoyable read and does well as a standalone! A+++