Book 70, 2018

[chez_jae]

Marigolds for Malice by Bailey Cattrell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Last night, I finished reading Marigolds for Malice by Bailey Cattrell. It's the third book in her "Enchanted Garden" mystery series, featuring aromatherapist Elliana "Ellie" Allbright.

Ellie and the women's business group she's part of are busy opening a new museum devoted to Poppyville's past. While searching for items to display, they come across a time capsule. When the capsule is opened, it contains a small, botanical manuscript that Ellie is inexplicably drawn to. In addition to the manuscript, there is a photo of a woman who looks much like Ellie, a page from a journal, and a gold nugget. Later that evening, Ellie can't get the manuscript and the photo out of her mind. She pays a late night visit to the museum, only to find a local historian/researcher dead, and the contents of the time capsule missing. Ellie is drawn into the investigation, and her sleuthing puts her in danger.

On top of another murder mystery to delve into, Ellie finds herself in a love triangle when her beau, Ritter, returns to town and her friend, Spence, makes it clear he's been angling for more than friendship from her. In the meantime, Ellie has a bad feeling about her friend Astrid's new boyfriend, causing a rift between them. Now Ellie has not only a murder to solve, but also her own relationships.

Lovely story with likable characters. I enjoyed revisiting this verse, hanging out with old friends and meeting new people. I did guess the killer quite early, but it was still fun to see Ellie work it out.

Favorite line: "The last thing I need in this garden is a rogue goat."

Rogue goats, for the win!

Very good, four stars:

****