This was an OK Cozy Mystery. Kinsley live in Maine on the grounds of her Aunt's Maine Inn. She is a landscape gardener getting all the local inns and town ready for a local Inn Walk festival. A body of a young woman has been found in a potato field and the the entire town is on edge. When Kinsley finds her missing shoe buried in her Aunt's garden she sets out to solve the crime. I enjoyed the setting and the supporting characters. The mystery was weak and easy to solve. She did not know the victim and no one she knew was suspect so there was no reason for her to investigate, instead she just acted like she was smarter than the police and was annoying. It was a quick read

**I received an advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

While amateur sleuths are not always considered to be law-abiding, the actions done by Kinsley at the beginning of the book almost made me stop reading. Almost. I was completely frustrated by her and the how her actions were received by family, friends, and law enforcement.

But, I am glad I did finish the book. Set in Maine, this is the first in a cozy mystery series featuring Kinsley Clark, a landscaper, who also helps her aunt at her aunt's inn. I loved the descriptions of the sights and smells of Maine. Kinsley is a tad prickly, which makes for an interesting character that I would imagine we learn more of in later additions to the series. The mystery itself was fun to watch unfold, and the quirky characters in town add to the town's charm.

This was a fantastic cozy mystery! The small town and characters had the perfect charm, and the story line and events were fantastic and kept the plot moving along!

Kinsley Clark's life is nothing but her landscaping business and her aunt.

Aunt Tilly, owner of the Salty Breeze Inn bed-and-breakfast, raised Kinsley and her brother when their parents died. Kinsley will do anything for Tilly.

Best friend Rebecca "Becca" is a real estate agent and has a good head on her shoulders. The potential romantic interest is a restaurant owner, Pete, but he seems stand offish which isn't explained until the last pages. I like going against the standard convention of the romantic interest being a cop. In this case Rachel, Kinsley's brother's ex girlfriend, is the cop and they're friends.

The mystery has enough depth and complexity to keep you guessing and go with a misdirect. I like the town as a setting, it is brought to life and wraps its arms around the reader. The climax was my favorite of a suspenseful killer reveal done well and believeably. Kudos.

My biggest complaint is the ridiculous descriptions of the color of anything via flowers - such as eyes the color of "Sweet Tea heucherella leaves" or eyes the color of "blooming blue hydrangea globes". This became ridiculous and I was done with that on the second such plant reference for a color descriptor when the book is full of them! This doesn't make an interesting character - it makes her unrelatable unless we are all focused on gardening to that extreme.

Rating: Good - A fun read with enjoyable characters and town setting. Solid mystery.

Digging Up Daisy by Sherry Lynn is a refreshing mystery set in a beautiful coastal Maine town.

Will Kinsley figure out what happened to Daisy before it ruins the Inn?

Kinlsey Clark
Kins is our sleuth. She is a young gardener who loves her hometown in Southern Maine. Kinsley likes to use native plants that enhance the landscaping plan. She lives at her aunt's Inn. Seascapes, her landscaping business, is blooming, and the competition isn't happy about it. Kinsley and her best friend, Becca, hang out whenever possible and have each other's backs when needed.

I like Kinsley, although she did get a bit freaked out when she thought of how people would judge her aunt. She is hard-working, intelligent, loyal, and curious. Oh, and she is also talented in the planning and designing of flowers.

The Mystery
A woman is found murdered in a local potato field. She is missing a shoe. The whole town is up in arms, and the press has dubbed it the 'Cinderella murder.' A few other things are happening, like the neighbor's dog is missing, and someone is sabotaging the local flower beds that Kinsley maintains.

The town has a huge celebration called The Walk Inns, a parade of the local Inns for the public to view. This event is huge for the tourists that come each year. So, as you can guess, murder is bad for business.

I enjoyed the mystery, even though I figured out whodunit about halfway through. I love the characters. Kins and Becca are great friends, and Ms. Lynn makes me feel like I am right there with them, helping Rachel solve the murder.

Four Stars
My rating for Digging Up Daisy by Sherry Lynn is four stars. I enjoyed the story, the mystery, the characters, and the setting. I recommend this to all you gardening lovers out there.

Bonus at the back of the book is some gardening tips on Hydrangeas, along with two recipes: Aunt Tilly's Oreo Truffles for the Walk Inns Event and Aunt Tilly's Go-To Cream Cheese Lobster Appetizers.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Digging Up Daisy by Sherry Lynn.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out Baroness Book Trove.

A 2.5 rounded up to a 3 stars for Goodreads. An okay cozy for me. The mystery was interesting, but I had a really hard time connecting to characters, and I found myself shaking my head at some of their actions. I will give book 2 a try but not sure beyond that,

3.5 Stars ⭐️

Kinsley Clark is the proud owner of SeaScapes, a landscape design company. She lives in the caretaker’s cottage behind her aunt’s estate, The Salty Breeze Inn, located in Harborside, Maine. Kinsley is doing some touch-ups to the plants around the inn to prepare for the upcoming parade of homes that will bring some welcome publicity to her aunt’s inn and her own landscaping business. Kinsley is shocked when she digs up the missing shoe from a case being referred to as the “Cinderella Murder,” Kinsley jumps into the investigation to protect her aunt and save the inn’s reputation.

This book is the first in a new cozy mystery series and has a cute premise with the landscaping business. The author does a great job of making the Maine setting come alive. I felt like I got to know Kinsley as a businesswoman and landscape designer and enjoyed the information about gardening that was part of the story and in the tips at the end of the book. I didn’t really connect with her as a person or an amateur sleuth, though. I was surprised at the choices she makes after discovering the shoe in the garden and had a hard time getting past that. I liked Kinsley’s aunt, but don’t feel I got to know her. My favorite character is the detective on the case, Rachel Hayes. It’s interesting that she is cooperative with Kinsley and is also Kinsley’s brother’s ex-girlfriend. I would have liked to have more scenes with Rachel investigating along with Kinsley.

The investigation has some surprises, and things are wrapped up nicely, even though the ending is a bit abrupt. There are some pacing issues in the story, but I think the series has a lot of potential. The setting and premise are great, so if more time was spent with Aunt Tilly and the Inn, in addition to Kinsley’s business, I think it would be a good balance and fun to read.

~ Christine

Landscaper Kinsley Clark lives in the caretaker's cottage on her Aunt Tilly's ocean view property, a bed-and-breakfast known as the Salty Breeze Inn. Her life is relatively tranquil, revolving around her landscape designs and time spent with friends and neighbors. In the lead up to the town's annual Walk Inns, its open house tour of local bed-and-breakfasts, Kinsley finds herself in unusual circumstances. She's been sprucing up plantings all over town in advance of the event only to find that her efforts are being sabotaged, leaving all of her beautiful flora and fauna wilting and dying. Further complicating issues, Kinsley discovers a lady's high heel buried beneath the shrubbery in Aunt Tilly's garden. Once it's established that the shoe belonged to Daisy Davis, the victim of a recent unsolved murder, Kinsley is concerned that this finding will bring negative publicity to the inn and suspicion to Aunt Tilly's doorstep. Kinsley feels obligated to protect her aunt's reputation and find the killer.

Kinsley enlists her best friend Becca and local detective Rachel Hayes to solve the mystery of Daisy's death. Who killed Daisy and why? Will Kinsley expose the truth before she herself becomes the next victim?

Digging Up Daisy, the first book in the Mainely Murder cozy mystery series, introduces readers to a lively cast of characters. The author hints at several motives and possible suspects, playing up mysterious connections between characters that keep readers engaged in unraveling the clues until the book's final pages. Protagonist Kinsley and her close circle of friends and family are relatable, and the ruggedly beautiful setting is the kind of inviting community that cozy readers will enjoy returning to time and time again.

I absolutely loved this book. If you love a good mystery like I do, I suggest giving it a read. Kinsley is a landscaper who is trying to get her Aunt Tilly's inn ready for a big event, but when she uncovers the shoe of a murder victim on the property she must find out who the killer is before her aunt's reputation gets ruined.
What I loved most about this is Sherry Lynn's beautiful way that she describes Harborside, Maine. I could easily envision the sites and sounds of the waves.
Kinsley's love for her aunt is so easily felt, and she goes above and beyond to find out who killed Daisy. With her best friend, Becca by her side she does some amazing sleuthing. Not only does she have a murder to solve, but she deals with a pesky competitor who will stop at nothing to steal all Kinsley's clients.
Grab this book, curl up somewhere comfortable, and get ready to enjoy solving a mystery while falling in love with the characters and the town of Harborside, Maine. I'm already excited for what comes next.

There was quite a bit about this book that I liked. The setting is lovely and I could just imagine all the sea views the main character describes. As well I liked Tilly and Kinsey's friends Becca and Rachel. I think there is good setup for a likable group of characters for the series as well as gorgeous settings.

That said, the mystery and flow of the story didn't really work for me. The dialogue frequently feels a bit clunky with too much detail and Kinsey's attempts at investigation seemed a bit over the top and not the most logical. The wrap up was a bit shaky and while the main mystery was solved there were several other things that seemed to be forgotten.

Despite the occasional clunky dialogue and some plot holes this did make for an easy read. While I didn't love it there were enough positives to have me picking up the next book in the series.

Dollycas's Thoughts

In this new cozy series, we meet Kinsley Clark, owner of SeaScapes, a landscaping company in the coastal town of Harborside, Maine. Kinsley's Aunt Tillie owns the popular Salty Breeze Inn, a B&B with gorgeous coastal views and gardens. Kinsley lives and runs her business out of the caretaker's cottage behind the inn. Her many wealthy clients keep her busy but she always has time to make the grounds at the inn something special.

The community is getting ready for a big event, The Walk Inns, an annual parade of several local bed and breakfast establishments that host open houses to showcase their places to drum up new and returning business. It is also a major event for Kinsley because she does the landscaping for most of the inns on the tour.

While finishing up some planting for her aunt just a few days before the tour Kinsley makes an awful discovery.  A fancy, pink, mud-caked, high-heeled shoe buried right next to the hydrangea she was trying to replace. A shoe she had just heard the police were looking for to solve what they are calling the "Cinderella Murder". This could not only ruin The Walk Inns but put her and her aunt on the suspect list. There could also be a murderer staying at the inn putting everyone in danger. She does have an in at the police station but maybe she can solve the case herself. Although, her snooping could also make her the next thing buried in the garden.

____

I love the theme for this series and the coastal Maine setting. The author describes everything so well, the views, the cliff where she has her own little hiding place, the cliff walk between the properties, the wild variety of flowers and their smells along with the smells of the salty sea air, the inn, the caretaker cottage, the town including all the flower baskets and containers.  I was able to visualize it all so clearly and almost smell all the scents allowing me to easily escape to Harborside, Maine.

I enjoyed meeting Kinsley and her Aunt Tillie. The first chapter gives us the lowdown on their lives and their close relationship. They both love what they are doing with their lives and their relationship is heartwarming. Kinsley's best friend Becca, a real estate agent is also a well-developed character. The friendship rings true. Rachel Hayes was Kinsley's brother Kyle's girlfriend who decided to settle down in Harborside and join the police force while he re-enlisted in the service and took a post in Germany. We also meet several other residents of Harborside including a rival landscaper who is a huge thorn in Kinsley's side. Some of the characters we get to know very well, others we just scratch the surface, and then there are a few where I felt we were definitely missing key information.   I also felt that the dialogues were a little clunky and it messed with the flow of the story.

The mystery was very straightforward but I thought Kinsley jumped to conclusions way too quickly. She overheard or witnessed something and immediately that person was guilty and she built a whole theory around it and it was completely wrong. That being said while the mystery played out and led up to a very thrilling ending I wasn't completely clear on everything. I had plucked the guilty party out pretty early but I was troubled by some things after all was revealed. I felt like I had missed something and went back and reread several parts but the description and details I was looking for just weren't there. A subplot regarding another crime confused me a bit too.

Ms. Lynn has built a good foundation for the series to continue. The setting is divine and the landscaping theme has taken hold. I liked the core characters and the way Kinsley worked with Rachel. I am worried about Tillie and that the inn will get to be too much for her soon and hope the author has help planned for her in the future. Kinsley also has to slow her roll and refine her amateur sleuthing techniques. Other problems I noted with the plot may be due to first book-itis, where the author has to introduce all the characters and the setting while trying to give readers a strong mystery within a set number of pages, and sometimes things get cut or missed or don't have the time to fully develop.

Digging Up Daisy has planted some good seeds and I have the utmost confidence that Ms. Lynn can nurture these characters into a blooming garden of mysteries that will delight cozy readers for a long time. Murder Under the Mistletoe hits shelves on November 7 and I am looking forward to visiting Salty Breeze Inn again to see what Kinsley and Tillie are up to.

This new series will have you craving "lobstah" rolls and the scenic view of Maine. Just watch out for the dead bodies.

I always enjoy starting a new series to see what the author will bring to the table in regard to characters, settings, mystery, and small towns. The mystery starts off with a bang, but you don't know why a shoe has been buried at the Salty Breeze Inn. Kinsley dives right into deciphering clues and trying to unroot the killer. The author does a great job of throwing red herrings into the mix. There is one character that really stands out as the potential murderer, but it just happens to be circumstantial. The true murderer was quite a surprise.

Since this is a new series, I don't have a connection to the characters yet. I'm on the fence regarding Kinsley. She seems nice enough, but she is a little rough around the edges in this first book. I'm sure her character will continue to grow and become more well-rounded. There are a variety of characters that play an integral part in the story, but they seem a bit awkward too. But this is the first book, so I suspect the author will continue to expand their character.

I did love all of the plant talk, and I could imagine them in my mind with bursts of color decorating the landscape. I admire those that can garden because I cannot.

We give this book 3 1/2 paws up and look forward to seeing how the characters and town expand.

I’ve read and enjoyed other books by this author under different pen names, and I fell in love with the cover so of course I had to read it! Kinsley is a landscape artist, something that I myself wish I were talented at but alas, I have yet to meet a plant I couldn’t kill. Kinsley, however, is a pro at transforming yards into beautiful masterpieces, though someone seems set on sabotaging her work around Harborside. Not gonna lie, this totally stressed me out for Kinsley – never mind the murder investigation, let’s catch the saboteur in the act lol

I adored her Aunt Tillie, and I hope I’m still as close to my nieces as she and Kinsley are when they’re grown up & I’m elderly. Aunts don’t get a lot of pagetime in fiction, so when I meet a good one in a book I perk up and take notice. Tillie is the kind of character you just want to reach in and hug, and then sit down with a beverage and a sweet treat for a nice long chat – if she has time in between tending to the B&B’s guests, of course. Her relationship with Kinsley is a lovely, positive, and affectionate one, and it’s always uplifting to have characters like that. Speaking of uplifting relationships, Kinsley’s friends Becca & Rachel are also delightful supporting players in this story and actually have fairly significant roles, too. I really enjoyed getting to know all the (hopefully) recurring characters in this series starter, and I’m particularly looking forward to seeing where the low-key romantic possibility vibes lead in the next books.

The murder mystery in Digging Up Daisy is an intriguing one with many different elements in play. Where was the victim actually murdered? WHY was the victim murdered? Why did her shoe end up buried in Kelsey’s yard? Where is the neighbor’s missing dog? Is the murderer one of the guests at the B&B or someone from town? Will they solve it – and the plant sabotaging crimes – in time to avoid bad press for SeaScapes and the Salty Breeze Inn? I figured out the whodunit pretty quickly, but that doesn’t mean it was a slam-dunk. I just happened to have an inkling and guessed correctly. There were a couple of other very plausible suspects, and it wouldn’t have surprised me in the least if one of them ended up being the killer(s) instead. Lots of layers to piece together, making it fun for armchair sleuths to play along at home while reading this book.

Bottom Line: Digging Up Daisy by Sherry Lynn kicks off what promises to be a fun new series! The coastal Maine, small town setting wraps around cozy mystery fans like a familiar & beloved quilt, though the residents of Harborside are considerably more well-to-do than most of Cabot Cove’s. The aunt in me loved Aunt Tilly, of course, but I also enjoyed Kinsley and her bestie Becca & their interactions. There were some things that could have been a bit tighter, to better advance the story & keep it from dragging a bit in the middle, but overall I enjoyed this first installment in the Mainely Murder Mystery series and look forward to more!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Digging Up Daisy is the first book in the Mainely Murder Mystery series by Sherry Lynn, and I’m looking forward to reading more.

Kinsley is a landscape gardener in a wealthy coastal town in Maine with a small town feel and a lot going on. There are small businesses, some sinister feelings, and a murder to solve, all leading up to a special weekend for the town. Kinsley is out to solve the murder and gives clues to her friend Rachel on the force as she and her friend Becca sift through the clues to discover whodunnit.

This cozy mystery was a little slow getting into since there was a lot of background information on the characters to be sorted through. When the book took off for me, several chapters in, I couldn’t turn the pages quickly enough. There are a lot of vivid descriptions of the homes, the small town, the beautiful gardens and flowers, the food, and the ocean. I could feel the warm breezes, smell the fragrant flowers, and breathe the salty ocean air, along with the lobstah!

There were a lot of twists and turns, along with many red herrings, which seemed to throw everyone off the scent. There were corny jokes and phrases all having to do with murder, gardening, and even Cinderella. You have to read the book to be in the know.

There is closure in solving the crime but not without some injuries along the way. Knowing this is the first book in the series, I look forward to meeting up with these characters again.

I love the cover, which brings up memories of several visits to southern Maine, and I can envision myself staying there. It invoked a peacefulness in me.

Digging Up Daisy is a delightful start to this cozy mystery series brimming with small town charm, a plethora of clues, and misdirects, leaving me wanting more.

Kinsley Clark is hard at work with her landscaping company, SeaScapes, trying to get ready for the upcoming Walk Inns event at several bed and breakfasts in the area, including the one her aunt owns. As she’s digging in the dirt outside her aunt’s inn, she discovers a shoe buried in the dirt. She immediately recognizes the shoe as the one on the local news connected to the murder that took place the day before. How did it come to be in her aunt’s garden?

I really did like the premise of this mystery, so I went in hoping to enjoy the book. I did struggle through the first chapter, which gave us lots of backstory for Kinsley. Fortunately, it ended with the discovery of the shoe, and things picked up with several interesting suspects, clues, and red herrings. Unfortunately, when we reached the ending, not all the clues were accounted for. I think I can make some of them make sense, but I’m not sure they do. It’s a shame the plot turned out to be weak since I did like the characters and the setting. In the way of extras, we get some gardening tips and a couple of recipes. The characters and the setting are definitely a draw. If only the plot were better.

Kinsley is living her best life. She’s the proud owner of a landscaping company in a wealthy neighborhood. Unfortunately for her, her life gets turned upside down when she’s working at her aunt’s bed and breakfast one day. She uncovers a high heeled shoe…

Reeling from uncertainty, Kinsley goes into a tailspin. Is her aunt connected to the murder? Will it scare away guest? As she digs deeper into the crime, more suspects surface…and Kinsley may have bitten off more than she can chew.

This was a solid read and I would recommend it to people looking for a nice quaint read. It was the perfect palate cleanser so to speak. The writing was done well, and I enjoyed the pacing. I wish a few things would have been more developed, but they worked overall. I also wish the ending flowed a little better, but again, it worked. I would recommend you check this out if you are looking for a nice relaxing read. The elements of mystery and intrigue are ever-present and will keep you hooked. I also love the title, after reading it, it made me chuckle.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

First book in a new series. Loved the characters and plot. It kept me guessing and was filled with strong female friendships. The author does a great job at describing the terrain and wind off the ocean, I felt like I was there. A great read and good introduction to the series. I can't wait for more!

Digging Up Daisy by Sherry Lynn takes us to Harborside, Maine. I enjoyed the descriptions of the coastal town of Harborside, Aunt Tilly’s bed and breakfast and the grounds of the Salty Breeze Inn, and the lovely plantings created by Kinsley. The author brought the cliffs and sea to life. We get to know Kinsley, Kinsley’s bestie, and Aunt Tilly. Aunt Tilly is a sweet, hardworking woman. I can understand why Aunt Tilly and Kinsley enjoy living on that property. The views sound amazing. I could envision living in Kinsley’s cozy cottage with the ocean breeze and the sound of the ocean lulling me to sleep (it would be a peaceful place to read). The mystery started off in a unique way with Kinsley finding a recently murdered woman’s shoe under a plant while sprucing up the landscaping on the grounds of the Salty Breeze Inn. The last thing Kinsley wants is to bring unwanted publicity to her aunt’s bed and breakfast with the annual parade of homes, The Walk Inn fast approaching. Kinsley is also worried that her aunt will be a suspect in what has been dubbed the Cinderella Murder. Kinsley, with help from her best friend, Becca begins investigating. I like that Kinsley shares information with Detective Rachel Hayes. There are several suspects in the crime. There are clues to help readers solve the whodunit. The guilty party is obvious early in the story. I would have preferred a more perplexing whodunit. I did find the reason for the crime spree to be lame. The characters were a touch awkward. The dialogue and behavior are off (we need less of people thinking everything is about them and taking things the wrong way). Digging Up Daisy had aspects I liked and others that could have used improvement. Digging Up Daisy is the first of A Mainely Murder Mysteries. This gives the author an opportunity to make changes. Digging Up Daisy is a floral fiesta with an unearthed shoe, sea breezes, plant problems, an amazing aunt, a planted threat, and a lurking killer.

Loved it. Sherry Lynn made me laugh and she made me cry. Clever mystery. So happy to see this is the first of a series. I am eager to read more of Kinsley's adventures. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Digging Up Daisy: A Mainely Murder Mystery
By Sherry Lynn
Berkley
April 2023

Review by Cynthia Chow

Thanks to the mentoring by the aunt who raised her, Kinsley Clark has achieved her dream of owning a landscape design company in Harborside, Maine at the young age of 28. Seascapes landscaping was even featured in Coastal Living magazine, and Kinsey is hoping that her Aunt Tilly’s Salty Breeze Inn will achieve similar success with their third participation in the Walk Inns annual parade of homes. So when Kinsley digs up a sequined shoe on The Salty Breeze Inn grounds, she only briefly hesitates before covering it up again. The designer pink high-heeled shoe matches the one worn by a recently murdered woman, with the missing shoe leading police and the media to label it as the “Cinderella Murder.” A criminal investigation on Matilda “Tilly” Hartwig’s property would definitely disrupt the open-house bed-and-breakfast showcase tour, and Kinsley would do anything to protect her beloved aunt. Aunt Tilly took in her niece and nephew after the death of their parents in a classified military incident, finally giving them a stable home without constant deployments. Kinsley’s brother prefers the military lifestyle that currently has him serving in Germany, and although she misses him it at least means that she has a contact with his fellow former MP-turned-police-detective girlfriend left behind.

After finally cluing Detective Rachel Hayes in on the morbid-but-sparkly discovery, Kinsley and her best friend Becca begin their own investigation to solve the crime before the Salty Breeze Inn is prevented from being a part of the open hour tour. The Thelma to Kinsley’s Louise (or maybe the other way around), Becca joins Kinsley in stakeouts fueled by candy and flirtations with suspects. That also means questioning Kinsley’s nemesis Denny Davenport, a rival landscaper who may have done more than just sabotage her clients’ plants. A Channel Four news reporter is on the scent of more than just a festival event now that there’s a murder involved, so the threat of bad publicity for both her and her aunt’s businesses is as dire as their imminent arrest.

This first in a new series includes gardening tips for the adventurous as well as an abundance of small-town charm and characters. Kinsley’s blatant amateur detecting in the face of the official one is justified by anonymous threats, sabotage, and an Internet troll, not to mention the probable framing of her aunt for a crime she didn’t commit. Kinsley’s trauma due to the mysterious death of her parents continues to loom over her life, even causing her to avoid the playhouse she associates with the realization of what she had lost. A romance with the Boston owner of the appropriately named The Blue Lobstah could be promising for Kinsley, if only Pete O’Rourke wasn’t suddenly displaying suspicious behavior and avoidance of the police. While the main mystery unravels slowly, the compelling puzzle of Kinsley’s parents promises further intrigue in the future. This is a fun introduction to the town of Harborside, Maine and its many complicated characters.