This second book in Jodi Casstevens-Short’s Willow Springs cosy mystery series is a worthy follow up to the first, with bodies, near deaths, mysterious threats, red herrings and a generous helping of romance. Also, again, humour and lots of yummy food – I swear I put on kilos just reading it!
We’re a year on from Murdered by the Books and things are quiet in Willow Springs. Jillian’s bookstore is thriving, as is her relationship with hunky firefighter Travis. Jillian’s two sisters are doing well too – Amanda with her florist shop and Cate at the bakery.
That is, until Amanda’s Halloween window display is vandalised and – worse – her flower delivery man, Rick, is found dead in his van behind her store. The police believe it’s suicide but Amanda’s not so sure. Meanwhile, awful things keep happening to Amanda and those around her, and someone is leaving ghastly, threatening poems on the Roses are Red theme, but with none of the Sugar is Sweet lines. And then there’s dear Aunt Grace with her vivid, and disturbing visions.
Someone believes Amanda has something – or someone – she shouldn’t have, but what? Or who?
Jillian’s detective feelers are on full alert. She wants to investigate, to ‘help out’ her best friend’s policeman husband. While he manages to keep her on a slightly tighter rein this time, the interactions between the two are part of the engaging fun of the tale.
Ms Short keeps the pace up and the pressure on from chapter one to the end. Her ability to deliver the cliffhanger end-of-chapter remains intact, meaning, well, you just have to turn that next page, don’t you? The plot twists and turns, the suspects accumulate, and the ending is an ‘Ah’ moment. You won’t see it coming, but it makes perfect sense!
Excellent reading, well done Ms Short. I believe book three is on its way.
Find Murdered by the Blooms here.