My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 2 in the series.

I love Amanda Flower, but so far this series has been just OK. I like the main character, Fiona, but I am not fond of her immature sister, Isla. And the way she was sneaking around especially annoyed me.

This mystery didn't hold my attention as much as the first book did. I feel like only the second book in, there's a lot more we could learn about the garden, and so I missed that element.

All in all, Ms. Flower's writing is solid and I did enjoy the book, but I'd like to see Isla grow up a bit.

Book 2 in this series and the main character Fiona is getting settled into her new life along with her sister Isla who has popped in to spend the summer with her. Surprise! We're told that in Book 1, Fiona was considered a suspect after finding a dead body in the garden of the property she inherited. As a result, she got to know the Chief Inspector (Neil Craig) pretty darn well. When the most adamant adversary she has turns up dead the day of her flower shop opening, she's pretty motivated to make sure she's not considered a suspect again.

There were actually two mysteries going on in this story. One, I caught onto right away. I'm not sure if it was supposed to be part of the intrigue as the main mystery but I didn't really feel that it was. The main mystery kept me guessing pretty well. I did guess who the guilty party was pretty early but it was written well-enough that I kept second guessing myself. I definitely didn't figure out the why of it.

In addition to this, we had a LOT of character growth and developing relationships of all kinds. Some were expected as one settles into a new area but others really surprised me. I appreciated how the relationship between the sisters was treated and how it was as natural in its evolution as the rest of the relationships. I enjoyed how Fiona was very self-aware and confident in some ways while vulnerable and at a loss in others. It made her more realistic. I also really appreciated the way that the different cultures played across the story.

I definitely would recommend this for someone looking for a cozy that's slightly different.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amanda Flower, and Crooked Lane Books for giving me the chance to read this book and share my honest thoughts and opinions with others.

Princess Fuzzypants here: While the story revolves around a magical garden for which our heroine is now the caretaker, the garden itself plays a peripheral role at best. Fiona’s godfather bequeathed the garden and the estate to her and she has moved from Tennessee to Scotland where she is opening a flower shop in the nearby small village.
Most villagers accept the newcomer except for the local minister who thinks Fiona and her garden are evil. He is quite virulent in his dislike of her so when his body is discovered, Fiona is suspected by some of having some responsibility. Despite having a vision, courtesy of the garden, that is frightening, Fiona insists on investigating the murder. She is warned off innumerable times by the Chief Inspector whose interest in her transcends the professional. Her younger sister, Isla, who is has just graduated from university and is visiting for the summer, isn’t helping matters either. Fiona feels compelled to sort everything and everybody out.. It could get her killed.
I loved the rural Scotland setting of the book with an assortment of colourful characters. It was actually a good mystery that had moments of high suspense. I’m not sure what part the garden will play in future stories but more a throw-a-way than an integral part of the story .It did not detract from the enjoyment, it simply surprised me.
Four purrs and two paws up.

This is the second in the Magic Garden mystery series and carries on from where the first one left off. We're two months removed from Fiona having arrived in Scotland, and she has her sister Isla visiting and is preparing to open her new flower shop, The Climbing Rose, in Bellewick.

The Reverend MacCullen has taken a dislike to Fiona (being related to all things magic garden) and has even gone so far as to ban her from attending the church, threatening her in public the one time she tried to attend service. So she's even more disappointed when the Reverend appears at her shop opening, threatening to close her down and ruin the magical garden as well.

The next day, however, Reverend MacCullen is found dead on a beach, possibly having drowned during the night's tremendous storm. But it's not all as it seems, and it appears that Fiona is not the only one with a bone to pick with the Reverend.

This book focused a lot on Fiona and Isla and their relationship with each other away from their parents in the US, the opening of and worrying about the flower shop business, Isla sneaking around with an unsuitable boy, and Fiona's burgeoning relationship with Inspector Craig. There wasn't much in the way of magic gardens at all, which was disappointing, but I suppose establishing her life in Scotland needs to come in somewhere.

I like this series, but I'm not sure if I like Fiona the way I'm supposed to. She inserts herself into the investigation because she's worried people will think she killed the Reverend, but she has an ironclad alibi, so there is no reason at all for her to do so. Small towns are notorious for closing ranks against outsiders but, again, she asks lots of questions and gets lots of answers from the townsfolk in order to figure things out.

The secret she uncovers about herself wasn't much of a surprise to me, unfortunately, although it's a good twist, and I hope the next book follows with the conversation with her mother because it will be interesting to hear the story of what happened.

Overall, I like this series and am keeping it on my TBR list.

Death and Daisies
By: Amanda Flower
Published By: Crooked Lane Books
Published On: November 13, 2018
4 Stars

Death and Daisies is the second book in the Magic Garden mystery series. In this book, Fiona Knox is still adjusting to life in Scotland. Her godfather has recently died and left her Duncreigan Cottage, its garden, and enough money to open up her new flower shop, The Climbing Rose. Many of the villagers have been very welcoming, but the local parish minister, Quaid MacCullen, has expressed nothing but disdain for not only Fiona, but for Duncreigan too. Fiona does her best to move past his anger and threats and to concentrate on her grand opening. Her grand opening seems to be a success and is starting to wind down when the village’s police officer storms in. He reports that he has found the dead body of Minister MacCullen. Chief Inspector Craig is at the grand opening and immediately heads to the crime scene. Given MacCullen’s hostile feelings towards her, Fiona fears that she will be a prime suspect, and she races after Craig to the crime scene. Fiona injects herself into the investigation, but in doing so puts herself in danger.

This was a quaint, cozy mystery with a bit of mysticism and romance sprinkled in. I don’t usually like paranormal stories, but this book had just enough to make it enjoyable and unique. The author has given us a great cast of characters in this book. First we have Fiona, our protagonist, who is trying to make a fresh start in Scotland. She is joined by her sister Isla who has come to stay with her for the summer. Fiona grapples with accepting the fact that her younger sister is no longer a little girl. This creates some tension between the two young women. Fiona also struggles with understanding her relationship with Chief Inspector Neil Craig. She is unsure of his true feelings for her. Fiona also gets to know some of the secondary characters in this book better. She also meets some colorful new characters. Her suspect list becomes a mix of old and new acquaintances. Wether good or bad, all of the book’s characters seem genuine.

This was a smartly written, fast paced story that I found very enjoyable. The mystery was intriguing and kept me guessing all the way until the end. There are many storylines that are left open for development in future installments. I’m looking forward to following these storylines within the context of future mysteries. In addition, I’m anxious to read other books by this author.

Thanks to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of this book. #NetGalley #DeathAndDaisies

Well-crafted cozy mystery! The characters are unique. The addition of some fantasy with a magical walled garden is a charming addition. This is a fast-paced mystery that kept me guessing until the end. I received a copy from NetCalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

I could hardly put this book down! There were so many things happening in this story, more secrets revealed, more love interests--and I didn't guess the killer!

Fiona's sister Isla was staying with her in Scotland at least for the summer, since she was just out of college and said she wanted to live a little before having to actually be a grown-up. When the village minister who made no secret of how he hated Fiona and her family, was murdered, Fi was worried she'd be blamed for this, since the whole village had seen him turn her away from the church service where her uncle Ian used to go. As before, Fi felt compelled to investigate, but Chief Inspector Craig had to admit she was helpful at times. I really liked the other thing he ended up admitting!

I definitely liked Isla. Even though at first she seemed a little flaky, she had a good head on her shoulders and really loved her big sister a lot. Isla also found a love interest--it was interesting to see who it was (you'll have to have read the first book to know more about this person, but if you didn't, you won't be lost). I think I may have enjoyed this book even more than the first one. It's definitely an awesome series!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Fiona Knox is settling into life in Scotland, even opening The Climbing Rose Flower Shop in Aberdeenshire.

Things seem to be looking up, as she lives in her inherited cottage with it's magical garden, in Duncregian. But when the local minister, Quaid MacCullen, lets her knows she's not welcome at his church, or his town, things turn a little dark. And then MacCullen is found dead. Chief Inspector Neil Craig doesn't think Fiona did the deed, but he doesn't want her helping in the investigation, either.

Thus begins an investigation that Fiona can't help getting involved in, one that puts her in grave danger.

Amanda Flower is one of my favorite authors, and I love this series. Maybe it's because I want to be her, inheriting a cottage in Scotland and opening a flower shop while being romanced by a handsome policeman. I enjoy the way Ms. Flower sets the stage for a mystery, and the way she describes village life and the inhabitants of Aberdeensire.

I followed the clues and figured the mystery. But I did enjoy the tale, and the addition of Fiona's sister, Isla. She added tension to the book, and a great deal of flavor.

Oh, and there was the ending, that left me thirsting for more in the series. I hope the next one is coming soon.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

This newest book in the Magic Garden Mystery series is a delightful in so many ways! I enjoy getting to know the characters, from the previous book and also new ones, and the setting is not only magical but the author's descriptions make you feel like you are there.

Amanda Flower has become one of my favorite authors recently and has made me love cozy mysteries, a genre that I didn't like very much before I started reading her books. As soon as I started reading this second book in the series, I felt like I was revisiting old friends, walking in the village and waiting for the grand opening of the, Climbing Rose Flower Shop.

Fiona Knox has planned to make a new life for herself in Scotland since she inherited her godfathers cottage in Duncreigan where she has made new friends, discovered a corpse in her magical garden and has a super cute cat named Ivanhoe. How does one leave a place like that? One doesn't! Fi isn't about to give up and that is just one of the many things I love about this character. She's a hard worker, full of life with enough energy for two people.

I love the rest of the characters that we've met so far in the series. Presha, Raj and Hamish are all cleverly written and I have become like family to Fi. In this book my absolute favorite is Hamish the caretaker of the property. He is so sweet and funny but in this book the author wrote a side of him that was very touching to me. Duncan the chatty squirrel and a pet belonging to Hamish continues to make me smile.

There is less focus on the magical garden this time but I found myself enjoying the direction Ms. Flower took her characters in. It's more about family and friends and the support they offer. There is the authors trademark witty dialog and a mystery that I couldn't figure out I thought I knew who did it, but I didn't! Which is another reason why I love her work and will continue to read her books. I like not knowing who the culprit is until the she's ready to reveal it to her readers.

Death and Daisies could be read as a standalone but I recommend reading Flowers and Foul Play first because you will familiarize yourself with the characters and it's really good.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley and was under no obligation to write a review. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed catching up with Fiona to see where she was after the events of the previous book. I was glad to see that her sister Isla was staying with her for the summer (or maybe even longer) so we got to learn more about her as well.

There were parts of this book where the story started to drag and I could feel myself losing interest. The mystery kept me reading though. There were several different suspects to choose from. I kept going back and forth between who I thought the killer was. The killer ended up being someone I suspected, so the reveal wasn’t a huge surprise, but the suspense leading up to the reveal and being thrown off track at the last minute made it interesting.

I still wish that the magical garden played a bigger role in the book. We didn’t see much from it in this book either but I’m hoping that will change in the next book. The romance building between Fiona and the Chief Inspector is becoming a bigger part of the story now, but thankfully it didn’t take away too much from the mystery. I really like the Chief and think he and Fiona would be good together. The information Fiona learned about herself left me with my mouth hanging open. I wasn’t expecting that at all. I hope we get to find out how the conversation goes that she needs to have with her mother. It would be interesting to see how that plays out.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy the mystery sounding the minister’s death and Fi’s sister being added in the story brought a good hominess to Fi and I enjoyed her continued love interest with the chief inspector, they seem so great together, but I missed the whimsical elements that were in the first book surrounding the garden. You do get a few clues about the mystery of garden in this instilment but the garden was not center of the mystery as it is in the first book.
All, in all, the story is very entertaining I just missed reading and learning more about the garden and the magic it holds in the town and I look forward to the next installment.

Fiona Knox leaves a boring life and cheating fiancé in Tennessee for a new start in Scotland when she inherits her Godfather's cottage and magic garden.
She's settling in to a nice life with several new friends when the one person that wants her to leave is murdered. Everyone knows that the victim hated Fiona. Hopefully they won't suspect Fiona of the crime.
Fiona tries to solve the crime with the help of the handsome Chief Inspector Neil Craig and Fiona’s sister Isla.
*Will the murderer be found?
*Will a romance develop between Fiona and Chief Inspector Craig?
*Will Isla return to Tennessee or stay in Scotland?
*And, most importantly, will Fiona learn all the secrets of the Magic Garden?

Death and Daisies

by Amanda Flower

Fiona, who has inherited a home in Scotland, a magic garden, and most importantly the position of Keeper of the Garden from her godfather, Ian, is joined in the book by her much younger, at-loose-ends sister Isla. Fiona is opening her flower shop named the Climbing Rose Flower Shop after the 300 year old rose growing in her magic garden in Duncreigan. Some townspeople are welcoming and friendly like Raj and Pasha, twins in their sixties with calming and wise ways. Others view the sisters with suspicion for their strange Tennessee accents and ways and their association with the magic garden. The local minister is so opposed to Fiona that he publicly bans her from the church.

Death and Daisies by Amanda Flower centers around a murder, threatening notes, an abusive spouse, and drugs. Fiona is compulsive about investigating despite a scary vision that might potentially foretell her death and the warnings of Chief Inspector Neil Craig who is afraid she will be hurt.

Death and Daisies is a fun and fascinating cozy mystery you will not want to put down. Filled with interesting characters and lots of twists and turns in the plot, this tale has room for character development and an interesting setting. The murderer and the reason for the murder surprised me. The author has another surprise for Fiona and the reader toward the end of the book on a very personal level. There is closure to this book, but also several issues that deserve further attention. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #2 in the Magic Garden Mystery Series but works well as a standalone

Publication: November 23, 2018—Crooked Lane Books

Memorable Lines:

“St. Thomas Church, as it stands today, is much younger. It was built in the seventeenth century.” She said this like the seventeenth century was last week. If anything was over one hundred years old back in Nashville, they turned it into a museum and built a fence around it. In Scotland, “old” had quite a different definition than I was accustomed to.

I didn’t want to break it to her, but no one had their life figured out at twenty-two. I didn’t have it figured out at thirty, and I wasn’t expecting fifty to be much better.

“But no one should make an apology expecting one in return. That ruins it for both parties. It is better to say you are sorry and be at peace.”

From a farm in Tennessee to a small and cozy home complete with magic garden in Scotland, Fiona Knox is determined to get her life on track and to be a successful flower shop owner. With the untimely arrival of her sister Isla and the even more untimely demise of a local pastor, in her new flower store. Was it drugs? Who is the troublemaker that Isla is attracted to? What about the suave developer who refuses to take "NO" for an answer regarding a garden tour? Can local CI Craig help her get to the bottom of things before her livelihood and her life are threatened. There is more than one secret in that garden but you'll have to read the book, no spoilers here! Enjoy!

Title: Death and Daisies

Author: Amanda Flower

Series: A Magic Garden Mystery book 2

Chapters: 37 plus epilogue

Pages: 307

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Death and Daisies is the second A Magic Garden Mystery by Amanda Flower. Fiona Knox is settling to live in Duncreigan Scotland preparing to open her Flower Shop The Climbing Rose when her sister Isla shows up on her doorstep. To make matters worse the body of the parish minster is found washed up on the beach. It's no secret that he didn't like Fiona. Fiona is bound and determined to prove no only that she didn't kill the minster but find his killer, but to make her flower shop a success. And to find out what's going on with her younger sister. It's not going to be easy.
I enjoyed this book more than the first, probably because as the second book it flows faster because the setting and the characters are already established. Fiona is an easy character to relate to. I can relate to the whole being 9 to 10 years older than your younger sister who's just finished college, because I'm 9 years older than my sister who just finished college this year and she like Isla doesn't really know what she wants to do with life. The village and the villagers are how I picture a small village in Scotland being like. But I have to say that I didn't see that twist at the end coming.
This book is great for cozy mystery fans as well as fans of book series set in Scotland. I look forward to the next book in this series as well as more books by this author.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I adore this series ! I was thrilled to receive this book for review. The author is a favorite cozy author of mine as she writes the definitive cozy mystery with outstanding details that bring her books to life for the reader.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. I have read the first in series and highly recommend both the first book and this second in series. This is a utterly charming series that captured me from the first book. My opinion is my own.
Death and Daisies by Amanda Flowers returns us to Bellewick, Scotland. This is so charming a village to read about and so richly described I felt as if I had visited . Fiona Knox our protagonist, has been busy getting her new flower shop, "Climbing Rose Flower Shop" ready to open. Isla her sister is helping her and came after she graduated from college. All is not well with the townspeople and the new shop. Fiona has a nasty visit from
Minister Quaid MacCullen who recently barred Fiona from attending church ! However Fiona’s shop opening is a grand success until the volunteer police chief, stumbles in crying murder has occurred ! He had found the reverend’s body on the beach. It is well known in the village that MacCullen disliked Fiona which puts her at the top of the suspect list.
Fiona has just started to set down roots, loves her shop and is not willing to give up her shop or her life for these ridiculous accusations. The small village is gossip central about Fiona as the possible murderer. She is determined to clear her good name and get back to a normal life. .She begins to investigate and soon has clues and suspects that lead her down the right path to the actual murderer.

I like the characters in this story very much. They all add depth to the village and play a part in the sleuth. I especially enjoy the addition of the magic from the garden and how Fiona incorporates it into her life. Death and Daisies is such an enchanting cozy mystery with all the right elements for a long running successful. series that the author's readers adore. Very well done series and I look forward to the next in series. A excellent read and a outstanding mystery.

A solid mystery to follow up Flowers and Foul Play. Fiona has to dig into this one in order to protect her new business and reputation in a small town. And she digs up plenty of suspects and trouble along the way. The romance angle continues to develop slowly. Fiona's sister is the primary focus of most of the non-mystery-related scenes in this book. One big reveal at the end will carry into book 3, just like the end of book 1. This is not my favorite of Flower's mystery series. I haven't clicked with these characters enough yet to be eager to dive into another story. Maybe that will happen in book 3.

I never tire of reading cozy mysteries by Amanda Flower. She combines a murder mystery with just the right bit of wit and charm that makes her stories such fun reads. Death and Daisies take readers back to Scotland for the second installment of the Magic Garden Mystery series.

One of my favorite aspects of the story was the fact I got to know the characters better. Many are introduced in the first book but we really get to know them in this book. Raj and his sister, Presha, become almost like family to Fiona. And speaking of family, Isla, Fiona's sister is over for a visit. The two don't always see eye to eye but it is clear they care for each other and it was nice to read of their sisterly bond. And no Amanda Flower book would be complete without a four-legged creature of some sort so it was nice to see Ivanhoe the cat make a return appearance.

As to the mystery part of the book, well, I can never figure out who the murderer is until the reveal. The author gives many possibilities but never gives enough clues to spoil the mystery. This, along with her descriptions, makes the book a fun and quick read.

This book could be read as a standalone but I would recommend reading the series in order just to get to know the characters. Fans of cozy mysteries will surely love this latest book from Amanda Flower as it's everything one would expect from the genre.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.

Fiona has opened her flower shop in Scotland, her sister is visiting from the states, and the village minister is dead set on her not being a part of his village. Of course when the monster ends up the victim of murder, Fiona is worried she will be at the top of the suspect list since the village knew all about her run-ins with the minister.

She is out to solve the case and it isn't as easy as She thought as not and more suspects come to light. Who knew a small village minister could make so many enemies?

I really enjoyed this book. The second in a cozy series is always interesting to me because you get to see where the characters are headed, whereas in the first book we are just introduced to them.

There are a lot of secrets in this book involving Uncle Ian, Fiona's parents, her sister, Isla, and a lot of people in Bellewick. I'm also super excited to see where Fiona and Inspector Craig's relationship will go as the series continues.

I can't wait for book #3! 4.8 stars.

I voluntarily reviewed this book on Netgalley. #netgalley #deathanddaisies #amandaflower