Abby has made a trip from her home to Lake Michigan to aid her cousin Jillian who is set to emcee a fashion show. When a model is found murdered and her cousin is the main suspect Abby knows she has to get involved. It doesn't help that most of the people walking in the show are well known and respected in the town. Jillian ends up in jail for not following instructions about not leaving town making Abby realize she needs to move quickly. In steps Athena and her partner Case to help. The two begin to ask questions trying to fit all the pieces together while at the same time trying to stay off the police chiefs radar. When another murder is committed it's more imperative than ever to figure things out. Follow along as Abby and Athena become fast friends and join their investigative skills in hopes of clearing Jillian's name.

Athena and Case encounter Abby Knight from the Flower Shop mystery series by the author when Abby’s cousin Jillian is accused of murder in Sequoia.
This was such a fun read. Two sets of detectives and a host of good suspects in the murder of Carly at the fashion show.
There is a lot to like about the Goddess of Greene Street mystery series - the main characters have become private detectives, so they have good reason to investigate; a Greek mother to keep things lively; a raccoon as a playmate for Niko, Athena’s son; a handsome detective partner; and a bunch of craziness with Athena’s family.
This is the 4th book in the series. I think it could be read as a stand-alone.

I received a complimentary copy from Kensington Books and thus all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is sadly my first Kate Collins book and book 4 in the Goddess of Greene St Mystery. I would recommend that you read the first book in the series as I got confused along the way. The book follows ever busy single mum Athena who is also an avid gardener , a blogger (she low-key blogs about her family) and is a crime solving sleuth like every hero in a cozy. Her already busy life is interrupted when a fellow 'sleuth' a term I use lightly shows up at her doorstep in need of her help. It was a different way of tackling a cozy mystery and I enjoyed the setting, the characters and of course can it be a cozy with no romance?

Actual rating:3.5/5

Gone But Not For Garden is a fun 4th novel, brimming with disorder in the mystery series by Kate Collins, featuring single mum Athena Spencer. Protagonist Athena, smart and caring, is great as is her boisterous Greek family. Athena is very busy as a blogger, garden centre manager and private detective. There is humour by the bucket-load and the opening chapters drew me into the story capturing my attention immediately. I was never bored as there was so much going on and the mystery itself was well thought out with enough misdirection to puzzle over the perpetrator's identity and motive. With oodles of mouthwatering food references, there was plenty to keep the reader entertained. The book has a natural, steady pace and I was totally engrossed right through to the reveal.

Reading Gone But Not For Garden was a great way to while away a few hours and I am now looking to read the first novel in the series as well as eagerly awaiting the fifth instalment. A highly recommended, quick, light read for all cozy mystery fans.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Kate Collins wrote nineteen full length mysteries featuring Abby Knight - along with her husband in later books. Now Abby has come to Athena Spencer, aka The Goddess of Greene Street, and her partner in their PI business, Case. Abby's cousin was arrested in connection with a murder on Athena's turf and who better to help clear her name but Athena and Case. Turns out Athena and Abby make a very good investigative team.
Not only does Athena know the lay of the land, she also knows much about the various relationships of the VIPs involved....like the mayor's wife, etc. In order to unmask the killer they can't just dive in, they have to be very careful. Add to the situation? Athena's large, loving and very colorful Greek family. Athena will not only have to listen to all of their opinions and advice but she has her job as the garden center bookkeeper and being mother to her young son. It's a lot to juggle but, if anyone can take on the challenge, it's Athena.
Besides the well written puzzle to confound the reader, the characters are well developed. One more addition to each book is the resident juvenile raccoon, Oscar, who lives in the back acre of the garden center. What's not to love about this series?
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! I will admit I read the first book in the series, but need to catch up on the books in between. Well the author did an amazing job of making it so easy to jump right into this book. What I love most about this book was how unique it was that Athena started the series as an amateur sleuth while working at her family's garden store...and now she's made it official! She had her beau Case are private detectives and it's such a contrast from the more amateur style of cozy detecting; less of a snooping vibe and more of a methodical way of investigating, but still such a cozy feel. And Athena still has her blog (which I love) and works at her family's garden center. I was quite surprised by the reveals and how it all shook out and loved all the added big Greek family elements! I can't wait to read more.

It was so much fun to see both this author's main characters actually working on case together as Abby Salvare came to get Athena and Case's help clearing her cousin of murder. What a crazy case with lots of secrets coming to light.

I could so commiserate with Athena about going to fairs! I'm definitely not a fan and don't like those crowds either lol, but she did what she had to for family and for the case at hand. Speaking of Case, I liked how close Athena and Case were now. They seemed to be in a nice, comfortable spot in their relationship but I could tell Athena wasn't too wild about PDA. But she did get to see how cute Marco and Abby were together and probably kinda wished that for her and Case.

That was some showdown but Abby and Athena proved themselves totally capable. I hadn't really settled on a whodunit, so I just let the girls and Case take the lead lol. Little Oscar the raccoon did get to play a role in the showdown, and now Athena was grateful that Nico had taught the little guy how to play ball. Abby and Jillian got a big, happy Greek sendoff when they left, but I'd love to see these two ladies work together again. Even Lila was on her A-game this time, so it was definitely a team effort to solve the case.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Gone But Not For Garden is book #4 in the Goddess of Greene St. Mystery series by Kate Collins.

Athena works with her Greek-American family at their garden center. She’s also an amateur crime solver. There’s a death at a fashion show which Athena gets pulled into. Abby Knight Salvare, flower shop owner, is there to help her cousin.

I love Athena and Abby working together. This is my first book in this series but I am a fan of the Flower Shop mysteries. This was an entertaining story. The mystery was good and kept me guessing.

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Gone But Not For Garden is the latest book in the delightful Goddess of Greene St. cozy mystery series. As with most cozy mystery series, it can be read as a stand-alone, but it's always much more enjoyable to read them in order. If you're jumping into the series here, you will absolutely get enough background info weaved into the book to help you get to know the characters and setting. If you're a fan of Kate Collins's Flower Shop Mystery series, you'll recognize Athena and Case's newest client, Abby Knight. In Gone But Not For Garden, Abby asks for their help when her cousin is accused of murder.

As with the prior books, Athena is still working in her family's garden center, writing the goddess anon blog (which her family love and have no clue it's Athena), doing mom stuff, and working as a private investigator. Her mom is convinced that Athena will run herself into the ground and begs her to do less. I don't think doing less is in Athena's vocabulary...However, she does agree to take Nico to the fair along with Case, just to convince her family that she knows how to take a break. Let's see how that works out.

I love the eclectic mix of characters in Gone But Not For Garden. Her big Greek family consists of many amusing characters as well. I found myself laughing aloud several times during the book, especially when she's with her sister Delphi. If you like baklava, and who doesn't, you'll be craving some by the end of this book! In fact, you'll just be hungry in general from the fair food talk, breakfasts at her grandparents' restaurant, and dinners at her parents' house!

Gone But Not For Garden will charm you with its wonderful characters, and it will puzzle you with a murder mystery filled with suspects. I give it 5 stars and can't wait for the next!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Gone But Not For Garden
A Goddess Of Greene St., Book #4
Kate Collins
5 Stars

Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Kate Collins pairs Abby Knight, her sleuth from her Hallmark Channel Flower Shop Mysteries, with Athena Spencer, a single mom from a big Greek-American family, as they investigate a crime of fashion in the idyllic town of Sequoia, Michigan…


Athena Spencer works with her big Greek-American family (whom she also anonymously blogs about) at their garden center near Lake Michigan. She’s also gained a reputation for crime-solving—and that’s what brings flower-shop owner and fellow sleuth Abby Knight Salvare to her door . . .
Abby has come from Indiana to this Lake Michigan town to help her cousin, Jillian, who was emceeing a local fashion show and now stands accused of murdering one of the models. Some of Sequoia’s most prominent citizens were there on the catwalk, so there’s increasing pressure to have the next event be a perp walk.


The clueless Jillian is in jail after ignoring orders not to leave town, and she isn’t happy—orange is not her color. Along with her handsome PI partner, Case, Athena starts making inquiries, while tiptoeing around the wives of the town’s mayor and police chief. In the meantime, the two detectives are becoming fast friends. After all, in addition to homicide, Abby and Athena share an interest in horticulture—though right now the only thing they’re growing is their list of suspects . . .
(Amazon)


Review:


Athena has her hands full with the nursery, her blog, her boyfriend and their detective agency. She meets another private eye that wants her help clearing her cousin from a murder rap. The two join forces and try to figure out who the murderer is. It was really interesting watching Athena and Abby working together, I enjoyed it.


The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions kept me on my toes throughout the book. There were lots of people to suspect and plenty of clues to consider. The mystery was well plotted and not easily solved.


I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I look forward to reading the next book.


I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Case and Athena return with the whole crazy Greek family. But included in this mystery is Abby Knight from the Flower Shop mystery series. I loved this crossover mystery.

I love this series, and this latest book was a great addition to it!
Athena and Case have opened their investigative business and their first official client is a private investigator from out of town trying to clear her cousin from being wrongfully prosecuted for murder. There are many suspects, a lot of motives, and plenty of opportunity. So who did it?
Lots of humor, mystery, and a sprinkle of romance. Highly recommend.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Gone but not for Garden is a fun crossover between two cozy mystery series by Kate Collins. Athena Spencer has just opened a private detective agency with Case Donnelly in Sequoia, Michigan. Athena also works at her family's garden center while raising her son, Nicholas. This is the fourth outing for Athena and her large Greek family, but the first I've read. 

Athena is surprised when she gets a visit from Abby Knight Salvare from Bloomers Flower Shop in New Chapel, Indiana. Abby and her husband Marco have a detective agency back in Indiana but requests help from Athena when Abby's cousin Jillian is the prime suspect in a murder there in Michigan. I'm a fan of the Flower Shop Mystery series, so it's always fun spending time with Abby. 

Marco and Case are involved in the murder investigation, but it's mainly up to Athena and Abby to find the real killer and prove Jillian's innocence. Abby needs Athena's knowledge of the local residents to find other suspects, but otherwise, she is clearly the one taking the lead in the investigation. I don't know if she is like this in other books in the Goddess of Greene Street series or if she feels insecure next Abby who has more sleuthing experience, but Athena lacks self-confidence and seems out of her depth during much of the investigation. Athena isn't my favorite main character even though I enjoyed the banter between her and her sisters. (Her bossy mother, who I found irritating, is a different story!) 

The book has a cute ending, with the two women getting help from an unexpected source during a dramatic showdown at the end. I enjoyed the book, but am not sure if I will read more books with just Athena. However, I remain a fan of Abby Knight Salvare and of author Kate Collins!

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Kensington Books.

It took a little bit for me to get into this book but once I did, I enjoyed it.

Athena works at her family's garden center and with her partner, Case, as a detective team. Athena and Case, having solved a few crimes of their own, finds them in another case to help a detective couple solve the crime that her sister is being suspected of.
There was no shortage of suspects (even though the Detective is sure he's got the right person) and the twists and turns will keep you guessing til the end.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Athena and her family is up to next.

Such an enjoyable read, and it is nice to know that I am not the only one who isn’t a huge fan of the fair. The Goddess is back and her big Greek family thinks that she needs to take some time off, enjoy some fair food with her son and Cage, but there is no rest for the Goddess when there is work to be done. Case and Athena have just put their shingle out and are excited to get their new PI business going. As luck would have it, when a case comes looking for her and it means some one on one time with an accomplished PI needing help to clear her cousin. Athena has opportunities to get out of her comfort zone and take point on several interviews in addition to public speaking, of which she has an almost paralyzing fear so making her less than perfect and completely relatable. Athena’s Goddess Anon blog is a nice touch making me wonder if maybe we could all use a similar outlet when it comes to family. The suspects were plentiful and the misdirection had me stumped until the big reveal.

Solid mystery with believable red herrings, characters we've come to enjoy and a bit of humor and romance as well. So much fun to have "cameo" visits from Abby and Marco, beloved characters from Collins' other excellent Flower shop series.Terrific entry in a series that gets stronger with each book. Recommended!

The murder victim in this entertaining book is a prominent local figure who is participating as a model in a fund-raising event. When her name is called for her turn on the cat walk no one appears and eventually her body is found backstage.

Main characters in the story are Athena and Case who have just set up the Greene Street Detective Agency. They are assisted by Abbey and Marco, also P.I.s, who are friends of the main suspect. There is a huge cast of characters mainly because Athena is part of a very large Greek family and all of its members are larger than life.

The mystery is solid, the investigation is done well and there is plenty of fun to be had along the way. I am interested now in looking for the three books prior to this one.

Athena and her large, crazy, quirky, noisy, nosy Greek family are back for adventure #4 in Gone But Not For Garden, a worthy addition to the Goddess of Green St. Mystery Series. A lot has happened in a short time since we first met these folks: murder, murder, murder, a wedding gone wrong, a fundraiser disaster, and all with Athena pretty much in the middle, snooping around and putting herself in danger. Case (that cute, mysterious guy from out of town that Athena teamed up with in the first book) came back and got his PI license. Since Athena has gained a reputation for crime-solving through her snooping – oops, sleuthing – anyway, Athena and Case decide to make investigating official and have partnered to open a PI business together. There might be a little “other” partnering going on, too!

A death at a local fashion show brings our favorite character from author Kate Collins’ bestselling Flower Shop Mysteries series to town. Who else could it be but Abby Knight? Abby’s whiny, entitled, clueless cousin Jillian (who could forget her??) is in jail as a – the main – suspect. Abby has heard about Athena’s crime-solving success and comes to Michigan from Indiana to ask Athena and Case to investigate since they know the local area and have had such success in the past.

When Athena starts making inquiries, knowing the locals might not be such a good thing after all. She’s forced to tiptoe around the wives of the town’s mayor and police chief and deal with insinuations that she is being disloyal to the Greek community. The plot moves quickly. Suspects are plentiful, but you have to put on your thinking cap.

Just as we would hope and expect, Abby and Athena hit it off. But there’s no time for a blooming friendship; there is a mystery to solve and a murderer to find. It's fun to be back in Michigan with Athena and all these unforgettable characters. She is still writing that blog – has to stop from becoming any crazier, right? Her father has figured out she is “Anonymous” but is keeping her secret, since that blog is the first thing her family turns to every morning. They love it. Her sisters are as endearing and irritating as ever, her mother keeps pushing her way into Athena’s life, and Pappoús and Yiayiá are still adorable, if also still stubborn. Nicolas – now firmly Nico – loves this big family of grandparents and aunts and people who care about him. And then there’s Case. Slowly, slowly but seems to be something there. Sweet. Abby Knight is a joyful bonus.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing an advance copy of Gone But Not For Garden via NetGalley. I am voluntarily leaving this review and all opinions are my own. It was a delightful read and I cannot wait for the next installment.

An entertaining and engaging cozy mystery. Two teams (couples) of detectives are required to solve this murder. An unusual pet is found in this series. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Gone But Not for Garden is the fourth installment in the A Goddess of Greene Street Mystery series set in Sequoia, Michigan and featuring Athena Spencer, manager of her family's garden center and co-owner of the Greene Street Detective Agency with boyfriend Case Donnelly. Athena's parents are trying to get her to step back a little from the garden center and turn the reins over to her younger sister Delphi. But, Delphi is easily distracted and more interested in her visions than running the family business.

Jillian Osborne, a fashion consultant from New Chapel, Indiana has come to emcee the the Small Business Association Fashion Show coordinated by Fran Decker of Fabulous Fashions. Three prominent citizens are modeling in the show: Carly Blackburn, PTA president, Hope Louvain, the Police Chief's wife and Eleni Sloan, the Mayor's wife. When Eleni is called to the stage and doesn't come to take her walk, the reason is apparent when she's discovered dead in her dressing room. Unfortunately, Jillian becomes the prime suspect as she was the one to disperse the water bottles, one of which was filled with poison.

Jillian's cousin Abby Knight Salvare arrives in town and seeks out Athena and Case to find the real killer. Athena and Abby quickly discover that Carly was involved in more than the PTA and there were multiple people that would like to see her out of the picture.

It was fun to have the author merge Abby, the main character in the Flower Shop series with Athena. A great way to showcase the investigative techniques of both women and their significant others. It's always great to spend time with Athena's family and marvel that she still manages to keep her identity as blogger Goddess Anon a secret. An enjoyable afternoon read and I hope that we see the foursome back together again.

I received an advanced copy of Gone But Not for Garden from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing Corp. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.