Snipped in the Bud

Abby Knight, florist, makes a floral delivery to an overbearing law professor who intimidates her and then runs into another law professor she is at odds with over animal rights and has words with him. After leaving she has second thought about the trashed flower and goes back to retrieve it, only to find the second professor dead. Because of her animosity she becomes a prime suspect. Abby was especially annoying in this volume of the series, going where she shouldn't, mouthing off at all the suspects, the police, and reporters. They should have locked her up until the investigation was over. Mix this with her super annoying cousin, Jillian, and I'm rethinking continuing with the series.

Flower Shop owner Abby Knight is asked to deliver a black rose to Professor Puffer, who terrorized her during her brief time as a law school student. Abby is hoping to drop off the rose and run, but much to her dismay she runs into not only Puffer but another law professor, Carson Reed, who not too long ago had Abby arrested at an animal rights protest. Both men bully Abby into fleeing the building, but she decides to stand up for herself and goes back inside only to find that Professor Reed has been murdered. Plenty of people heard Abby's fight with Reed and she is a chief suspect in his murder and there's a real chance she'll be arrested. While Abby fights to clear her name, she stumbles upon a series of pet nappings and is convinced show more the two are related. But can she and hunky ex-cop Marco find the real murderer and pet nappers before she is arrested for murder?

This was a nicely plotted cozy mystery. Although I've read many mysteries where the heroine is considered a suspect, this is the first one I've read where the situation wasn't contrived and there was a legitimate reason for the police to suspect Abby. Abby is an engaging heroine, although there were times in this book when her meddling was a bit too much and once or twice I rolled my eyes while reading the book. The book has lots of humor and Abby's various disguises as she hides from the Media and various townspeople who think she is the murderer are quite humorous. The mystery is well written and I didn't guess who the real murderer was until the very end.

Very enjoyable. show less

Let me just get this out of the way; this book was a doozy to read. I could have underscored this book, but then I remember the impossible ones and I'm grateful for having discovered this series. Who cares if the culprit in the story wasn't a bolt out of the blue? I can only speak for myself but Kate Collins knows how to write a cozy murder. There's just enough of annoying characters to giggle at and if that's not your thing, then they're inconspicuous enough to avoid and focus on another, fuller, redder, bustier, shorter character. Herein ends this review.

This is the fourth book in the Flower Shop mysteries by kate Collins. I have enjoyed all of these books and they seemed to be getting better as we go along.

The character development for the main characters is expanded with each book so that it is as if you were getting to know the characters as real people. At the same time, the previous stories of the series are referenced in such a way that if you missed one of the previous books, you can still carry on without the details of that story.
The plotline was entertaining as well as effectively planned and holds the readers interest as well as building a bit of suspense to force you forward in the story.
Can't wait to open the next book!

Not a bad cosy murder. Abby really wasn't suited to study law but floristry is more her style. When she's supposed to deliver a black rose to one of her former professors and nemesis she decided that she needs to screw her courage to the sticking place and get on with the job.

When he throws the flower in the bin shes disgusted and after storming out decides to retrieve it.

To find that another professor Carson Reed, with whom she had a recent disagreement is dead, and her fingerprints are on the murder weapon.

She ditzes her way through the investigation in true Stephanie Plum style.

I like this series most of the time. Abby is bright and determined to defend herself at all costs. However, sometimes those costs get pretty high especially when she goes off and does things that more than one person (cops, lawyers, DA and Marco) have told her not to do -- like talking to reporters when she is a suspect in a murder.

I am also very tired of cousin Jill and her total abuse of Abby's hospitality and friendship. Probably one of the least sympathetic characters I've run across in a long time, especially when it seems we are supposed to be sympathetic.

Still, I will keep reading the series because the mysteries are good and most of the time I really like Abby and Marco, Libby and Grace and Abby's parents. I just hope she gets show more smarter about her own safety and spends less time with the nasty cousin. show less

A fun combination of murder mystery and romance, this little book will keep you entertained. The fiesty and firy Abby Knight finds herself a prime suspect for a murder which she and her hunky boyfriend investigate. Nothing life changing, but a light relaxing read.