This was a cosy, small town, mystery read that everyone needs. It had me engaged from the very beginning. Some parts of the story left me questions certain aspects but I did enjoy this and would read on if they ever became a sequel.

I have always enjoyed a good whodunit mystery but this book got really boring during the middle. By the end, I just couldn't wait to get it over with.

Josie Posey, is a fun and interesting character. The fact that she was a crime reporter was exciting. It was a fun and easy read and I am looking forward to more adventures.
#DoomedByBlooms #NetGalley

Doomed by Blooms by Anna St. John takes readers on a delightful journey alongside Josie Posey, a retired big city crime reporter turned crime solver, as she navigates her new life in a small, touristy town in middle America. With her posse of friends who are always in the know, Josie finds herself drawn into a web of mystery when she is asked to interview a local celebrity, a former NYC prima ballerina. Little does she know that this interview will lead her to uncover a murder that shakes the tranquil town to its core. One of the most enjoyable aspects of Doomed by Blooms is the well-crafted character of Josie Posey. Despite her retirement, Josie's passion for solving crimes and her sharp investigative skills never waver. St. John skillfully portrays Josie as a mature yet ever-feisty protagonist, making her instantly relatable and endearing to readers. Her desire to dive back into the action is palpable, and it is through her eyes that we experience the twists and turns of this enthralling murder mystery. The setting of the small town adds an extra layer of charm to the story. St. John expertly paints a vivid picture of this idyllic place, where everyone seems to know everyone else, and a weekly game of mahjong is the highlight of social gatherings. However, beneath the surface of this peaceful community, secrets lurk, and the discovery of a body in a field of flowers sets the stage for a gripping investigation. The author seamlessly weaves together the cozy atmosphere of the town with the unsettling nature of the crime, creating a perfect balance of intrigue and familiarity. The Mahjong Mavens, Josie's quirky group of friends, provide both comic relief and indispensable assistance in her pursuit of justice. St. John skillfully develops these characters, giving each of them distinct personalities and roles in the story. Their interactions and camaraderie add depth and charm to the narrative, making them a delight to follow as they help Josie piece together the puzzle of the murder. In addition to the suspenseful plot and well-drawn characters, Doomed by Blooms also explores the theme of second chances and the intricacies of relationships. Josie's friends, with their relentless matchmaking efforts, push her to explore her attraction to a local blacksmith, sparking a romantic subplot that adds depth to the story. The sparks that fly between Josie and the blacksmith create a captivating dynamic that keeps readers invested in their journey. Anna St. John's writing style is engaging and immersive, capturing the readers' attention from the first page to the last. The pacing is well-balanced, providing a steady stream of clues and revelations that keep the readers guessing until the final resolution. The author's attention to detail and ability to create vivid imagery make the scenes come alive, allowing readers to easily visualize the events as they unfold. Overall, Doomed by Blooms is a captivating and entertaining mystery novel that combines elements of suspense, romance, and friendship. Anna St. John's skillful storytelling and well-crafted characters make this a book that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages. Whether you're a fan of cozy mysteries or simply seeking an engaging read, Doomed by Blooms is a book that should not be missed.

I found this book boring and had a very hard time following what was going on with the story line and all the characters. I love cozy mysteries but this wasn't it for me.

Doomed By Blooms by Anna St. John is the first in the Josie Posey mysteries.When Josie inherited her grandmother’s estate, she retired from being a crime reporter and at age fifty-five moved to town aptly names English Village. She’s developed a group of close friends, who have named themselves the Mahjong Mavens, and according to Jose pretend they are crime-solvers. Josie lands a new job as a features reporter for the local paper and is interviews a local celebrity ballerina. When her husband is murdered, Josie jumps into action to solve the mystery.

This is a charming and enjoyable cozy mystery, perfect for a summer afternoon. (I reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.). I look forward to the next in the series.

Smartly story with a cozy vibe! This one is perfect for an Agatha Christie fan or a mystery lover!


Love the vibes, the town, the amateur detectives and the plot! The characters are so good created and that is a stand out!

Recommended for sure!

This book was just Ok. I found that it didn't really hold my attention. The characters need more character.

This was a good cozy mystery. I loved getting to know The Mahjong Mavens and their sleuthing. The people in English Village were entertaining and the twists and turns that kept you guessing until the end was pleasant. I hope the author will continue writing about Josie and her sleuthing crew.

Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

What initially drew me to this new mystery cozy was its lead character. She's not your typical amateur sleuth and strays from the usual norm in the genre. However, the story didn't resonate with me, and I found myself skimming through the book. Too bad.

The first installment of a new series finds Josey settling into her new quiet, small town life. That does not mean she is ready to retire completely. She finds herself writing again, but this time it is local interest stories. She has no idea that her first one about a ballerina will led her to investigating a murder. The characters and setting are enjoyable. The mystery was not as mysterious as I had hoped. It is still a nice start to a new series, and I look forward to the next book.

Doomed by Blooms was a bit of a spur of the moment request for me via NetGalley. I am thankful I was approved for this ARC and a bit disappointed in myself that I didn't manage to read this sooner. I found myself a bit disenchanted with cozy mysteries recently. So, I gave myself the necessary break.

Anna St. John's book is delightful! Yes it involves a group of women (The Mahjong Mavens) do quite a bit of amateur sleuthing and driving the local detective bonkers, but it's also a symbiotic relationship for Josie and the detective. There is mutual respect and appreciation between these two which I found refreshing. Josie was a big-time city slicker reporter, but now she's retired and enjoying her days seeing her lady crew. However, when murder strikes, Josie's inner journalist and crime solver emerges and she can't help but involve herself in figuring out what happened.

There are lots of red herrings in this book! I made it through the book in a day, because I wanted to know what happened. I also really liked the people in the town and the ways they connected with one another. I am hopeful there will be another installment for Josie and the Mahjong Mavens.

Josie Posey, a mature yet ever-feisty big city crime reporter turned crime solver, has officially retired to a small, touristy town in middle America where she and her posse of friends “unofficially” have their noses in everything.

Josie loves her new life, but a weekly game of mahjong isn’t she itches to get back into the action. She gets more than she bargained for when The Village Gazette asks her to interview their local celebrity, a former NYC prima ballerina.

Then, the ballerina’s husband is discovered dead—face down in the couple’s beloved field of flowers. Now, Josie has the inside track on solving the murder, with her quirky Mahjong Mavens as useful sidekicks.

And if a killer in their midst wasn’t enough distraction, Josie’s matchmaking friends are pushing her to date again—particularly, to pursue an attraction toward a certain local blacksmith, with whom sparks fly.

I found this story to be fantastical. I really enjoyed Josie's detective skills and her quirky friendships. Will recommend to others.

✨✨✨ARC REVIEW✨✨✨
Doomed by Bloom
By: Anna St. John
Pages: 188
Release Date: February 7th, 2023
First in the Josie Posey Mystery series

This was a fun small town murder mystery book! I needed something that was different that what I was normally reading and this was great in filling in that hole.

The characters were fun and it felt that you were in the story with the characters.

Tropes:
Cozy
Murder Mystery
Small town

Synopsis:
Josie Posey, a mature yet ever-feisty big city crime reporter turned crime solver, has officially retired to a small, touristy town in middle America where she and her posse of friends "unofficially" have their noses in everything.

Josie loves her new life, but a weekly game of mahjong isn't enough: she itches to get back into the action. She gets more than she bargained for when The Village Gazette asks her to interview their local celebrity, a former NYC prima ballerina.

Then, the ballerina's husband is discovered dead-face down in the couple's beloved field of flowers. Now, Josie has the inside track on solving the murder, with her quirky Mahjong Mavens as useful sidekicks.

And if a killer in their midst wasn't enough distraction, Josie's matchmaking friends are pushing her to date again-particularly, to pursue an attraction toward a certain local blacksmith, with whom sparks fly.

This book was a nice little quick read. Overall the story was pretty good, and I did like Josie, the main character. Between Josie and her friends, everyones dogs, the murder suspects, and everyone’s significant others I was having a very hard time keeping track of all of the characters. On top of that Josie gave her car a people name that confused me more than once.

I love a good cosy mystery and this was a good read for me. I enjoyed the chatter among the characters! A perfect afternoon read!

Love the cover! I love plants and flowers; so I was drawn in by the cover and title. But I also really enjoyed my first Josie Posey Mystery. Not a super long read; but it was a perfect cozy little mystery (with some delicious looking recipes at the back).

I am familiar with the plant in question, but did not know about its toxicity.

I really enjoyed that the main character was in her mid fifties and that the book was very "clean". (A book that I could recommend to my mother.)

Thank you to NetGalley for introducing me to (yet again) a "new to me" author. Thank you for the opportunity to read the Advance Release Copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author Anna St. John and the publisher Level Best Books for approving my ARC request.

I always like a cozy mystery where the amateur sleuth at least has some background and skills that make solving a crime seem like a within-the-realm-of-possibility task. A retired big city crime reporter seems to fit that bill. But Josie is kind of a dithery combo of charging out to investigate and yet responding to threats in a very civilian-like way. And I really wish authors would quit using uncharged cell phones to solve every problem a supposedly intelligent main character gets into. "How could I have forgotten to charge it?"

Also, people seem to be falling all over themselves to tell Josie their personal life stories. And the notes that provide a framework for solving the murder seem ridiculous. If those issues were really weighing on the victim's mind, I have to think he'd have done something more than leave his wife cryptic notes and hope she'd 1) find them and 2) figure them out. The explanation over the notes and how they used them as conversation starters, etc., just didn't work for me.

That said, it was an interesting story, and I like seeing a mature woman protagonist. Hoping the next one will be a bit more polished.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The moral of this story is to not call a group of women "biddies," lest they spend all their time trying to prove you wrong. Josie Posey is a retired crime reporter working on a profile of a local ballerina for the small newspaper in her new town. But her investigative instincts spring to life when the ballerina's husband ends up dead, and she needs help from her fellow Mahjong Mavens. This cozy mystery breezes right along, with enough red herrings to keep you guessing who did it, and a wealth of fun supporting characters to give the story vibrancy (including a hot, friendly blacksmith, which should be a requirement in every city, if you ask me). And with a hot summer setting, this twisty read is perfect to curl up with on a cold night.

This was a fun one! I loved the cozy mystery feel. I loved the small town, the group of ladies! The writing was great! I liked all the side characters. She made me feel apart of the story.