Helpful Score: 10
Jean Hager develops a wonderfully written cozy murder with Blooming Murder. The Iris House is beautifully described and I can imagine it vividly in my mind. There is even a little diagram of the floor plan in the front of the book. This turned out to be very helpful as the book went along. I found myself referring to it to get an idea of where everyone was in the storyline.
Being from Missouri, I felt that small town Missouri was very well written, down to the stereotypical community members. There are founding family descendants that are still tall in stature even if they are short in monetary supplies. There is the stuffy conservative banker, the rude obnoxious sheriff, the boy "next door" type of love interest even though he's not really next door but you get my meaning I hope. LOL
Tess is young and slightly naive but she's still able to follow the clues to the killer. While I figured out the killer with an "a-ha" moment about 2/3 of the way through the book, I believe Ms. Hager did this intentionally. Not long after my moment, she confirms it with a little sleuthing on Tess's part.
A very easy read with enjoyable characters and a beautiful setting. Highly recommended.
Being from Missouri, I felt that small town Missouri was very well written, down to the stereotypical community members. There are founding family descendants that are still tall in stature even if they are short in monetary supplies. There is the stuffy conservative banker, the rude obnoxious sheriff, the boy "next door" type of love interest even though he's not really next door but you get my meaning I hope. LOL
Tess is young and slightly naive but she's still able to follow the clues to the killer. While I figured out the killer with an "a-ha" moment about 2/3 of the way through the book, I believe Ms. Hager did this intentionally. Not long after my moment, she confirms it with a little sleuthing on Tess's part.
A very easy read with enjoyable characters and a beautiful setting. Highly recommended.
Lorraine T. (mysterylover) reviewed Blooming Murder (Iris House B & B, Bk 1) on + 318 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Tess's first guests at her inherited B&B are gardening enthusiasts gathered for an Iris growers convention - what better place to stay than the Iris House B&B, until one of them turns up dead in the garden. A fun read.
Bonnie A. (ladycholla) -
Helpful Score: 2
Enjoyed this very much, good story, nice characters, wonderful cozy.
Helpful Score: 2
1st in this new series. I thought it was pretty good and especially enjoyed the descriptions of the rooms in the bed-and-breakfast which are all decorated with an "iris" theme. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
LeAnne G. (Gracious-Granny) reviewed Blooming Murder (Iris House B & B, Bk 1) on + 137 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A good cosy! will read more!
Helpful Score: 1
I loved this whole series. Something about cozies that even though they are a murder are so much fun!
wonderful story. Read these in order. I've most of her books listed!
Pamela C. (pj-s-bookcorner) reviewed Blooming Murder (Iris House B & B, Bk 1) on + 862 more book reviews
Blooming Murder is the first in the Iris House Bed & Breakfast series of cozy mysteries. First time read by this author. Tess inherits her aunt's Victorian house and converts it into a bed and breakfast. Opening week rolls around and with it the annual Iris Garden Tour. The last thing anyone expected was a body to show up among the iris. Quick, comfy read.
1st in the series and a fun read. I can't wait to read the next one.
Sheila A. (mysterylady) -
The 1st in the Iris House Mystery Series.
From the back of book:
Horticultural Shock
A timely inheritance has enabled spunky, self-sufficient Tess Darcy to transform her late Aunt Iris's estate into a charming bed-and-breakfast inn. Aptly enough, among her first guests is a gaggle of gardening enthusiasts gathered together for the regional Iris Growers' Convention-- a thorny bunch more interested in digging up dirt than in weeding and watering. And when one of them turns up dead in Tess's magnificent garden--a cake knife planted firmly in her chest--it falls to the harried hostess to unearth the killer...before any more corpses spring up.
From the back of book:
Horticultural Shock
A timely inheritance has enabled spunky, self-sufficient Tess Darcy to transform her late Aunt Iris's estate into a charming bed-and-breakfast inn. Aptly enough, among her first guests is a gaggle of gardening enthusiasts gathered together for the regional Iris Growers' Convention-- a thorny bunch more interested in digging up dirt than in weeding and watering. And when one of them turns up dead in Tess's magnificent garden--a cake knife planted firmly in her chest--it falls to the harried hostess to unearth the killer...before any more corpses spring up.
First in the Iris House mystery series, and a really delightful read!
