The landlady of the Marigold Cottages is happy to see her tenants happy and thriving after the murders that happened there some months before. She is, however, a little bored after the excitement of those days, so she's back to her meddling ways and introducing everyone at the cottages to her new friend CJ. This is how two of them wind up as witnesses to the death of CJ's wealthy boss and the widow's declaration that CJ is guilty. It's time for the Marigold Cottages Murder Collective to get to work and find justice, even if it's not exactly legal.

The case is interesting (if a little obvious) and the new people involved are great, but what I loved the most about this is that you can see how much everyone has grown after the events of the first book. Every character is in a much better place than they were in the first book, and you can tell that it's in large part because of the found family they've formed at the cottages. Even the detective seems to be in a better place. My one complaint is that Mrs. B's antics get annoying. She is the heart of the Marigold Cottages, but I would honestly enjoy it more with fewer bumbling-into-danger moments from her.
I'm sure you can enjoy the case without having read the first book, but you'll be missing out on so much of what makes the relationships and support between the characters so special. The moments when they all get together to discuss theories are when you can see how everyone's quirks are accepted and support is offered without needing to ask for it. It's a lovely microcosm of disparate personalities finding joy in togetherness.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the satisfying read!