Pruning the Dead by Julia Henry is the first book of the cozy A Garden Squad Mystery series. As with most cozy series the story within will be a self contained one with the mystery being wrapped up in the one book and a new mystery in each additional book of the series.

This series features an older leading lady in Lilly Jayne who is sixty five years young. Lilly Jayne hadn’t realized she’d become bit withdrawn after her second husband had passed away two years before but when her friends give her a gentle nudge she decides to once again focus on her garden.

Lilly Jayne has acres and acres of garden space at but she hadn’t hosted her tours in years so she wanted to make sure every petal was in it’s place before the hundreds of guests arrived. Attending Lilly Jayne’s affair was her first husband and his third wife who Lilly Jayne doesn’t quite care for but she never wished the woman would turn up murdered and her ex would become a suspect.

Pruning the Dead wasn’t a bad little mystery read at all, in fact most other reviewers seem to absolutely love it. However, when you see a 3, or I say eh, it was OK in the cozy mystery genre generally that means it just wasn’t quirky enough for me. I really enjoy the overly funny stories the most and I noticed someone called this one “realistic”, well yes, but realistic also translated into ordinary to me. It didn’t really help matters that the author tended to be one to tell and not show, especially right off, so I just didn’t get that excited with this new series.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I had a great time traveling to Goosebush, Massachusetts. As a Massachusetts native, I always get a thrill reading a book that is set there.
Lilly Jane is a fantastic character and I grew to lover her right away. The story was well written and captured my attention from beginning to end.
I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Lilly Jayne is a sixty-five year old widow, just getting back into the swing of things after years mourning the loss of her beloved husband. Once she starts paying attention to life in her small New England town, though, things get a little crazy - Lilly notices some inconsistencies in funding and zoning, she puts her finger on the pulse of relationships in the town, and to top it all off, a woman gets murdered. The suspects are Lilly’s friends, or if not friends then people that she knows quite well given the small nature of her town, and she (as well as some sidekicks along the way) work to get to the truth, both to find justice for Merilee as well as, in some way, save the soul of Goosebush.

This book initially caught my eye for a number of reasons - the cover is really nice, the synopsis was intriguing, the setting was a place that (being from Massachusetts myself) resonated with me, I’m very fond of Murder She Wrote so an older woman taking up solving mysteries in a small town seemed perfect, but most of all what I liked was that it was a cozy mystery. As I’ve gotten older I’ve discovered that I no longer really want to read stories about suffering, or without resolutions, and cozy mysteries are always the antidote to that. The characters are usually engaging, the mysteries compelling, the plot fun, and Julia Henry did an excellent job on all fronts.

One of the biggest selling points for this book is how extraordinary the characters are. Every character has flaws (some even acknowledge them! wild!), they all have backstory and nuance, the relationships between the characters are well developed and intriguing leaving endless fodder for future books, and even the antagonists in the book (women like Pat French and Merilee Frank) are interesting and have complex motives. Speaking of, I absolutely love that so many of the characters are women, and that diversity is not an issue for this author, it’s something she includes without question. The friendships are so lovely as well, and the ‘found family’ aspect, especially of the Garden Squad, is very important to me. I love how most everyone in Goosebush takes care of each other and the town, as that is something that is sorely lacking in today’s world.

Another thing done well was how Henry gets the drama of small town New England life down. Everything from conflicts at town meetings, issues between prominent residents, the struggle to develop and yet keep historical integrity, new residents making a place for themselves, everyone knowing each other’s business…It was so fascinating and well done. The world building here was fantastic - Henry has the history of Goosebush down pat, as well as the relationships past and present between the characters.

What a delightful read all around, and an excellent start to a new series; I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys mysteries but especially cozy mysteries. I really loved this, and cannot wait for the next installment. Also, at the end of the book there are gardening tips, which I thought was so sweet and apt, given the nature of the book and the main character’s love of gardening.

Pruning the Dead is set to be released on January 29, 2019.

Wow, I'm so glad I discovered this series. I really enjoyed this first book in the series. I like that the main character is in her late mid-life (I think that is how she referred to herself). It's nice to have a great series revolving around a more mature, wise woman. Most of the cozy mystery series I read revolve around young women (and many are still making silly mistakes). I like the gardening theme, the supporting characters, and the town. I can't wait for the next in the series! I was impressed with the writing as well. No way this is a newbie author. I'm going to have to see what else this author has written.

Loved it! A delight to read from beginning to end. I am thrilled to see that it is the first in a series. A diverse variety of characters. Someone with whom anyone can relate. I look forward to the further adventures of the Garden Squad.

Pruning the Dead by Julia Henry is the first book in a promising new series featuring Lily Jayne, benevolent town matriarch of Goosebush, Massachusetts and a close band of friends who have dubbed themselves the Garden Squad. They have taken on the task of sprucing up the town which has been neglected over the past few years, but are soon interrupted by murder and the suspicion that the perpetrator is Lily’s ex-husband. Although divorced, she holds no ill will toward him, and doesn’t believe he is capable of murder. In addition, Lily wants to see Bash, the town chief of police, succeed in his job and if he arrests the wrong person she fears his job will be in jeopardy..
The book was a little difficult to get into at first as there seemed to be a big story-telling aspect to the writing as opposed to helping the reader see the action. After the second chapter, the ability to “see” the characters and the town of Goosebush improved and the story began to take off.
The victim is not a likeable character, so there is no sadness at her demise. Conversely, Lilly and her friends develop into people you would like to get to know, perhaps even ask if you could become a member of the Garden Squad if you had anywhere near a green thumb. That sets the reader up to enjoy spending time with the people of the book as well as in the town of Goosebush itself.
Lily and her best friend, Tamara are well into the middle age category with the younger group being represented by Lily’s friend Delia. In addition, we get a closer introduction to Roddy, Lily’s new neighbor, Ernie, the proprietor of the local garden supply store along with several other town residents who will hopefully be repeat characters in the next book in the series.
The mystery itself was easy to solve, although that didn’t detract from the book itself. The reason for the murder was spun out in a slow fashion that made for interesting reading and also set up the series for further books, although this is a completely self-contained mystery. It seems to be the type of series where relationships and characters are more richly developed as the books progress, making it the type of series best enjoyed by reading in order of publication.
There is enough description to help the reader fall in love with the town of Goosebush and at least want to visit if not relocate. It represents a return to the charm of small-town Americana, although that charm is being threatened by outside forces. Some of this has happened because Lily has been focused on grieving the death of her husband for the past few years. The reader can breathe a sigh of relief, along with the town’s residents, when Lily begins taking an in-depth look around at her town and realizes she needs to get back to work to help the people and the town return to a pleasant place to live. It is easy to pull for Lily on the one hand, while never really doubting her ability to accomplish her task of making Goosebush a pleasant place to live, and accomplish it all while solving the mystery of who among them could commit murder.
This is a classic cosy in that the murder is touched on briefly in terms of description and most of the emphasis is on figuring out who the murderer is. Also, in classic cosy style, the murder is solved by Lily with the help of her cohorts, the resident amateurs who take on the task. They do have the help and support of local law enforcement, primarily because Lily is a lifetime resident of the town and has been known to always be working behind the scenes for the betterment of the community.
This first in a new series is good enough to create interest in reading the next book to see if it is as entertaining. I would love to see a few more viable red herrings and clues that were buried a bit deeper so that it becomes a more engaging puzzle for the reader. I look forward to reading the second in the series to see if it meets, or hopefully, exceeds that possibility.
My thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an advanced digital read copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is one I recommend to anyone looking for a new cosy mystery series.

Enjoyed this book tremendously. Loved the characters and the twists and turns in the plot. Thank you Julia Henry for this delightful cozy mystery. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

The first book in a new series Lilly Jayne mysteries and a new author for me. Lilly has been grieving for husband and at the urging of a friend has opened her spectacular garden. The party brought huge number residents to visit the garden. At the appearance of her first husband and his 3rd wife, Marilee Frank the mood of the party changed. Lilly is now aware of the negative aspects that are occurring in the town. She forms the Garden Squad to correct the problems. On the cleanup of the town's park, Marilee murder body is found. Lilly is involved in the investigation as her first husband, Pete Frank is the main suspect and Lilly feels he is not guilty. Will Lilly's effort to clear Pete is a success, or will Pete end up in prison. I highly recommend this book.
Gardening tips are included.

Disclosure: Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own.

This story sucked me I. And wouldn’t let me go 7ntil I read the end. Wonderful small town setting with fun, quirky character. How I wish I had some of this computer and gardening skills. W lol written developed story that brought all parts of th town to life and frequently made me laugh and kept me guessing. Looking forward to more of thyou a Garden Squad and their antics.

In this first book in new series we meet Lilly Jayne, a 65 year old grand dame in the town of Goosebush, Massachusetts. An avid gardener, voracious reader, and respected amateur sleuth, Lilly is well loved in her hometown. When the wife of her ex-husband is found murdered, Lilly truly believe he did not kill her, so she does her best to help clear his name and ensure the true culprit is brought to justice.

A great start to this new series! The characters are strong and the story well written. It includes wonderful blend of characters across all ages, races, genders and income levels. It truly encompasses a town full of people from all walks of life. I found myself immersed in the book and had a hard time putting it down. Love the gardening tips as well. Can’t wait to spend time with Lilly and the gang in the next book. On my must read list!

In the first installment of the series I have to admit I was delightfully surprised.
Gardening usually isn't my forte however this book may change that. With characters that grew as the book progressed, a plot that kept you turning the pages and an ending that blossomed and surprised this was one story that truly resulted in a wonderful book.
I can't wait till the next installment.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.
This is the first in a new series and I look forward to reading the next one.
The characters were entertaining and the whodunit was top notch.
I highly recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Cozy New England Murder Mystery
This wonderful story takes place in coastal New England. It utilizes gardening as a backdrop and focal point. The plot of the story has plenty of suspects and motives. It is very well done. All of the characters are deep and well developed. The reader gets invested in the story early on. The different people in the story could be easily found in any small town and in anyone's family. I hope that this is the beginning of a series because I would like to enjoy more of the lives of the townspeople of Goose Bush. I received this book for free and this is my honest review.

I loved this first book in the new Garden Squad series, and I will definitely look for the second one! I am not going to give away what the Garden Squad is... but I could not get enough of it!!
Meeting Lilly and all of her friends was a blast, and I'm impressed with the amount of characters the author was able to include without making it confusing. Along with lots of gardening discussion, the history of the town and historical documents that the main character has are very involved in the story and I enjoyed that very much. I can't wait to see what happens to Lilly next.

This is a wonderful new addition to the cozy mystery genre. Lilly Jayne is the doyenne of the small town of Goosebush, Mass. She is finally coming out of her shell after the death of her second husband, Alan and getting involved once again in small town life. Also living in Goosebush is Lilly's first husband, Pete, with his new wife Merilee, who has been making enemies left and right. When Lilly goes to participate in a town gardening project her friend Delia finds Merilee's dead body in the tool shed. And when Pete is arrested and charged with murder, Lilly can't believe Pete is guilty and along with her friends try to find the true culprit. This is a wonderful slice of small town life, with beautiful gardens, interesting characters and a well developed plot. I hope to see more of Lilly Jayne in the future.

It was delightful to spend time in beautiful Goosebush, Mass with Lilly Jayne and her friends. Goosebush is a beautiful small town and I loved the fact that the book began with a description of the town so that I could imagine where everything was taking place. Lilly is a sixtyish widow who has been grieving the death of her beloved husband Alan for the past two years, but as the book begins she is starting to get back into life by opening her beautiful gardens for a party with the help of her friends Delia and Tamara. Most of the town is in attendance including Lilly's first husband Pete and his new wife Merilee, who is the town diva. When Lilly becomes involved in the town's garden reclamation project and Delia finds Merilee's dead body in the garden shed, Lilly uses her knowledge of the townspeople to help figure out who did it. I thorougly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.