Keeping Mum

Description

Roanoke, Virginia, is home to some of the country's most exquisite gardens, and it's Camellia Harris's job to promote them. But when a political fundraiser turns deadly, everyone's a candidate for murder... Cam and her best friend, Annie, are planning a gala for a local Senate candidate-a murder mystery themed silent auction where the guests bid on who will be the night's "victim." Coordinating a beautiful display of fall flowers and planning the perfect fake crime is hard enough, but with a guest list that is a "who's who" of the Roanoke elite, Cam has her hands full navigating the egos and grudges of her high society guests. When local financial tycoon Derrick Windermere is found dead next to a shattered pot of chrysanthemums, the night's fun and games quickly turn serious. Half the guests had good reason to want Windermere dead, but only one is suspiciously missing in action-Annie's father. Now Cam will not only have to figure out which partygoer is a killer, but find her friend's father before all their reputations end up dragged through the mud...

Alyse Carlsonis the author of the Garden Society Mysteries, includingKeeping Mum,The Begonia Bride, andThe Azalea Assault.

Praise for The Azalea Assault "A very good first cozy mystery with an interesting cast of characters and a lovely setting. The Patricks' gardens are described in such a way as to inspire gardeners and non-gardeners alike...The mystery is well laid out with plenty of clues and hidden secrets revealed along the way."-The Mystery Reader "With a nod to the English Garden Mystery series by Anthony Eglin, the alpha Garden Society Mystery is a fun amateur sleuth starring a likable, caring heroine who relates in the third person her investigation while also providing a delightful tour of the city...Cozy fans and garden aficionados will enjoy Alyse Carlson's entertaining opening act."-The Mystery Gazette "Carlson has given her fledgling series a great start, with strong characters, good story sense, and sense of place, as well as a sly sense of humor that I hope will come even more to the forefront as the series progresses. The gardening is a great bonus, but as a reader, you'll stay tuned for the mystery."-AnnArbor.com "Fans of garden-variety, engaging amateur-sleuth cozies will want to read the alpha tale of what looks to be an entertaining series as Alyse Carlson plants an opening winner."-Gumshoe Review