Member Reviews

Cosy mystery fans who haven’t yet added Liz Fielding’s Abby Finch series to their auto-buy list are missing out on a treat. Murder in Bloom, the third title in the series, is a fun, unpredictable and nail-biting page-turner that I simply couldn’t stop reading.

Abby Finch is over the moon to have won the Maybridge Flower Show – especially as she has also been invited to appear on telly alongside her idol, Daisy Dashwood. Abby cannot remember the last time she had been this excited and although she has heard the rumours about Daisy being a diva, star-struck Abby cannot wait to be in her favourite celebrity’s orbit and bask in her greatness – until Daisy staggers out onto the stage and collapses at Abby’s feet!

Never one to resist doing a little bit of sleuthing of her own, Abby starts digging into Daisy’s life and discovers a large number of people who had their own reasons for wanting Daisy dead. Could it be her toy-boy lover? One of her co-stars with an axe to grind? Or someone from her past who wants to make Daisy pay for her old sins? The more she digs, the more perplexed Abby becomes, but the one thing she is sure of is that Daisy never went anywhere without her caddy of healing teas which has now vanished!

Did someone poison Daisy’s tea? Can Abby bring a killer to justice? Or is there a vital clue that she’s missing that could help solve this case?

Liz Fielding’s Murder in Bloom is cosy crime par excellence! A captivating whodunnit that drew me in the second I read the first page, Murder in Bloom is liberally sprinkled with humour, pathos and charm and is full of characters that leap fully formed off the pages.

Abby Finch is a marvellous sleuth with a knack for solving crimes by using her ingenuity, compassion and intelligence to find the clues necessary to ensure that justice is served.

A superb cosy mystery where the pages just turn themselves, Liz Fielding’s Murder in Bloom already has me eager to see what else the fantastic Abby Finch will get up to in her next adventure!

Was this review helpful?

I'm a huge fan of Liz Fielding's romances, and was looking forward to seeing how her writing would transfer to a different genre. All I can say is that I loved this book and am now also a huge fan of Liz Fielding's cozy crime.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this lovely book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

Was this review helpful?

Murder in Bloom by Liz Fielding is a delightful and intriguing cosy mystery that blends the charm of a small English village with the suspense of a well-crafted whodunit. I was unaware this was a series so I will definitely be checking out the other books too!
The book was engaging and full of wit and kept me wanting to read more! The author expertly captures the atmosphere of a small English village, beautiful gardens with its close-knit community and underlying tensions. The pacing of the novel is well-balanced, with just the right amount of suspense and light-hearted moments. The gardening descriptions really helped you to picture things clearly!
A perfect cosy read and a decent murder mystery that is both charming and suspenseful!
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Was this review helpful?

Abby Finch, of gardening fame, wins a competition in the local village show - the best natural garden. The legendary Daisy is the visiting celebrity and invites Abby to join her in her live TV show much to the annoyance of a competitor. Daisy dies. Abby and her friends investigate in association with the police - after all people talk to another local and perhaps let things slip whereas they might be more circumspect around the police. Abby continues to be a refreshing change in this respect as far too many cosy mysteries have the oh so clever amateur basically meddling, getting into trouble and being bailed out by the hunk of a detective. Or perhaps that's mainly the American cosies, sorry, cozies. Anyhoo, this is a pleasant and good read, sufficient red herrings to smell among the roses. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Was this review helpful?

This is THE PERFECT mystery for those that love all things related to cozy cottages, beautiful gardens, and a warm cup of tea. Join Abby Finch as she accidentally (not-so-accidentally) finds herself trying to solve a murder of what appears to be a natural death. When I picked up this book, I didn't realize it was part of an entire series - but that didn't ruin anything for me. After reading this, I would definitely read the other novels of this series. I was pleasantly surprised by this light, easy read that still had me hooked and unable to put it down. Loved it!

Was this review helpful?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The plot line and characters kept me gripped and needing more. with every page I needed to know what was happening.

Was this review helpful?

What an absolute treat it was to return to Maybridge for the third installment in Liz Fielding's immensly enjoyable crime series. Garden designer Abby Finch has entered her first show garden at the local flower show where TV gardener Daisy Dashwood is both judging and presenting an episode of her popular show The Potting Shed. Not only does Abby win a prize but she is invited onto The Potting Shed to discuss her back to nature design - and of course how she has been inspired by Daisy. Abby is reluctant to court any publicity after the events of the previous year (aka the first two books) but agrees as her daughter, Lucy, has set the whole thing up and is about to interview for a PR internship. But when Daisy doesn't turn up, Abby can't help feel that things are very wrong...

Abby is a great heroine, tenacious, fair and very human and the series is populated with a cast of very believable characters from Abby's children, her partner, Jake, to her friends and neighbours. The setting is idyllic (even with the odd murder) and Abby's gardening knowledge weaves through the book in an interesting and informative way, always adding to the plot. Add in some great twisty crimes, plausible red herrings and a sense of real danger and the net result is a really wonderful crime series. Highly recommended.

Was this review helpful?

Abby Finch is finally getting her life back in order after the death of her ex husband. Their children are finally settled, her business as a gardener is growing and she has finally found love again. Abby had a dream of winning at the Maybridge Flower Show, so she enters it. Finally it has come true and she won gold. She does an interview on stage with Daisy Dashwood, a legendary famous gardener for a TV show, but before it happens, Daisy collapses on the stage and dies. Being the sleuth she is, Abby agrees to help the police in their small, quaint little town. She’s helped before, so she’s willing to help again, not that the man she loves is happy about it. How did Daisy die? They think she’s been murdered. Will Abby and the police find the murder? Who could it possibly be? So many people could have done it. They need to find whoever did it before someone else dies. Is it just one person? Is there more? This is a wonderful mystery? The characters are wonderful. I couldn’t guess who it was. I didn’t want to put the book down. Worth the read. The series so far is amazing. I received this book for my honest review. I give it voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

Abby has entered a garden competition and is thrilled to win the top prize. She is invited on television to join Daisy's Potting Shed programme. However, Daisy goes missing and arrives late only to collapse. Abby is first to her side as shock turns to action and the paramedics arrive. Unfortunately the news is bad but what happened? Was it an unfortunate accident caused by hay fever medication or is something more sinister afoot?

It was a pleasure to meet up with the characters in this series. The suspense and intrigue begin at the start and continue through the book all the way to the suspenseful ending.

A brilliant read, a bit too descriptive and not quite fast paced enough for me but still a great book and I will be reading more in the series.

Was this review helpful?

This is the third book in the series and is another enjoyable and entertaining mystery. As well written as always with lots of great supporting characters that add to the enjoyment Highly recommended. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this ARC.

Murder in Bloom is the third in the Maybridge Murder Mysteries by Liz Fielding. I hadn't read the previous ones but it doesn't seem to matter much as a lot is recapped.

Abby Finch is a widowed mother of three, has a boyfriend called Jake and a garden design business.

When Abby wins gold at the Maybridge Flower Show for her quarry show garden she is about to join her heroine Daisy Dashwood on her TV show The Pottery Shed, but Daisy collapses and dies in the ambulance.

Abby is somewhat of an amateur sleuth, made easier by the fact that she is integrated in the community and the police like talking to her, giving her evidence and even asking her to act as an unpaid consultant when it comes to her expert knowledge of plants and herbs.

We meet beautiful gardens and interesting characters from the Maybridge community, including Abby's friends, family and neighbours. It's a delightful setting for a well-plotted cozy murder mystery. When Abby begins to dig up the dirt on the suspects, the tension ramps up with a second murder.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would for its lovely setting and its heroine, a middle-aged woman grounded in her community. Even the cover is very atmospheric.

Was this review helpful?

The Maybridge Flower Show was in full swing with Abby's first ever entry judged as a gold prize winner. Abby was astounded, but her upcoming appearance on the stage with TV legend, gardening guru Daisy Dashwood had her nerves jittering. When Daisy collapsed in front of Abby, and was taken to hospital by ambulance, her thoughts were with the sixty year old. But it was the shock of learning Daisy had died in the ambulance that had Abby's sleuthing antennae vibrating.

As Abby and Detective Dee chatted about Daisy's death, Abby knew something was off. And as her investigations into the many suspects grew, so too did her suspicions. When another woman was murdered, they knew the clock was ticking; they knew they had to find the killer/s before someone else died...

Murder in Bloom is the 3rd in the Maybridge Murder Mysteries by Liz Fielding and I thoroughly enjoyed it, as I did the first two. Abby is an exceptional character, as is her partner Jake. Her gardening prowess is phenomenal - I would love to wander around her garden, and the business she owns. Bring on #4! Highly recommended cosy mystery to fans of the genre.

With thanks to NetGalley & Joffe Books for my digital ARC to read.

Was this review helpful?

Even though I hadn't read the previous books in the series, "Murder in Bloom" stands strong as a standalone novel. Abby Finch, a dedicated mother, is overjoyed to meet gardening legend Daisy Dashwood after winning a gold medal for her garden at the Maybridge Flower Show. Daisy invites Abby to chat on her TV show, The Potting Shed, but before this can happen, Daisy is rushed to the hospital and declared dead.

I adored the setting of Maybridge and the character of Abby along with her family and friends. Liz Fielding crafted an enthralling mystery that kept me guessing about the killer's identity, especially as the suspense escalated with a second death. The story features some truly unsavoury characters. If you're a fan of cosy mysteries, this series is a must-read. The characters are fantastic, the setting is delightful, and the books are unputdownable, keeping you eagerly turning pages to solve the mystery. I was surprised by the killer's identity right up to the end and loved every moment.

Abby's investigative instincts kick in as she resolves to uncover the truth behind Daisy's death. Amid swirling rumours, Abby befriends Daisy’s personal assistant, Fay, who is eager to share insights into Daisy's recent life. Numerous suspects emerge, from someone in Daisy’s past to a young TV presenter coveting her job, her agent, her boyfriend, and secrets from her history. Abby and the police must first determine if Daisy's homemade herbal teas were tampered with.

Was this review helpful?

Flower Show Turns Murderous…
The third in the Maybridge Murder Mysteries and something nefarious is brewing. The Maybridge Flower Show is about to turn murderous. Another enjoyable and entertaining outing for amateur sleuth and gardener Abby Finch in this well written cosy mystery with plenty of heart, a nicely crafted cast of supporting characters and a well imagined sense of place.

Was this review helpful?

In Murder In Bloom Abby Finch is up to her eyebrows in suspense this time. By Liz Fielding this third Maybridge Murder Mysteries book is a full fledge mystery that wasn’t easy to solve but was so much fun trying. The one to die is a TV gardener who does so right in front of Abby who has won an invitation to the show. What looks to be an accidental death maybe much more.

Abby doesn’t just dig in the dirt; she now begins to dig up the dirt on suspects. There seems to be plenty to want to do in gardening legend Daisy Dashwood. The problem is made worse when it looks as it Abby’s digging to solve the murder crime gets her in danger too. A wonderful cozy mystery with an everyday sleuth, who you would want for friend and neighbor.

Was this review helpful?

This series just gets better and better, I love Abby Finch and when Abby enters the Maybridge Flower Show she is thrilled to meet gardening legend Daisy Dashwood and when she wins a gold medal for her garden Daisy invites her on stage to be have a chat on the TV show The Potting Shed but before that can happen Daisy is rushed to hospital and pronounced dead.

The sleuth in Abby is determined to find out what happened, there are a lot of rumours going around about Daisy and Abby befriends Daisy’s PA Fay and Fay is very willing to open up about what is happening in Daisy’s life at the moment and there are many suspects, is it someone from her past or the young TV presenter who wanted Daisy’s job could it be the agent and Daisy’s boyfriend and of course there are secrets from Daisy’s past but first the police and Abby have to discover what actually happened to Daisy did someone tamper with her homemade herbal teas?

I am loving my visits to Maybridge and I love Abby and her family and friends, Liz Fielding this one is awesome you had my head spinning with trying to work out who the killer was and then with the second death things ramp up, there are some not so nice people in this one. If you love a good cosy mystery then this is the series to read the characters are fabulous the setting wonderful and they are not put downable reads, they will have you turning the pages and doing your best to work out who the killer is and I didn’t work out who that was till the end, I loved this one.

I can’t wait for the next book in this series, I do highly recommend this one to any lovers of a cosy mystery, it is a must read.

My thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

Was this review helpful?

TV/film-industry, TV-personality, amateur-sleuth, greed, local-gossip, local-law-enforcement, family, family-dynamics, friendship, friends, Cotswolds, cozy-mystery, envy, gardener, gardening, murder-investigation, relationships, relationship-issues, small-business, small-town, surprises, suspense, suspicion, unpleasant-suspect, unputdownable*****

Abbey is a garden designer with a good reputation and a guest spot on a TV show by a well renowned gardening guru who dies on the set. The medical examiner refuses to declare cause of death until the tox screen comes in. There seems to be a relatively short list of suspects and Abbey is in a position to find more honest responses than her friend in the department despite their mild irritation at her doing so. But what happens when the prime suspect turns up dead in the water.
So many really sneaky red herrings and the plot twists blindsided me a time or two. Another unputdownable addition to a riveting series
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you

Was this review helpful?

Abby Finch cozy murder mystery book three. A maybridge murder.
Busy mum of three and expert gardener at the earlthy designs , the old quarry.
And she is now living with Jake that is running along smoothly for them both.
Abby recieved the gold award in her first garden show and she is delighted.
Murder in bloom is absolutely Brilliant from the first chapter. I love this series and there's never a dull moment in Maybridge.
Outstanding page after page with added humour from the characters too. The book has everything for any readers enjoyment.
Look forward to more in the trilogy.

Was this review helpful?

This book has so many exciting twists and turns. Just when you think you knows what's going to happen next you're in for a big surprise. Amazing storyline and I love the description that goes into it.

Was this review helpful?