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.

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!

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.

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.