Mums and Mayhem: A Magic Garden Mystery

Agatha winner Flower’s delightful fifth Magic Garden mystery (after 2019’s Verse and Vengence) introduces Tennessee native Fiona Knox, owner of the Climbing Rose Flower Shop in the Scottish village of Bellewick. Renowned fiddler Barley McFee has returned home to Bellewick for a concert, but tensions brewing within Barley’s touring band threaten to ruin it. The afternoon of the performance, Barley fails to return to the stage after intermission. Fiona, a volunteer helper at the show, checks the musician’s trailer, where she finds him strangled with a fiddle cord. When the police investigate, they discover a link between Barley’s murder and Fiona’s father, who’s visiting from Tennessee. Fiona, who has the gift of envisioning the future through dreams, can’t resist helping her boyfriend, Chief Insp. Neil Craig, try to exonerate her father. An intriguing subplot involves problems with the magical garden Fiona inherited from her Scottish godfather. Paranormal cozy fans and armchair travelers alike will have fun. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, Seymour Agency. (July)