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The novel that forms the basis of Reap What You Sew, the latest Aurora Teagarden Mystery. Premieres Sunday, April 15, 2018 on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries ChannelAurora Teagarden, mild-mannered librarian, has spent her entire life in the same small Georgia town. Along with her sister-in-law Poppy, Roe has finally earned a coveted spot in the Uppity Women, an exclusive group that does more than flower arranging. But Poppy is a no-show on their induction day. Roe stops by Poppy's house show more to find out why and is shocked to discover Poppy dead on the kitchen floor, and it's not by accident. There's no lack of suspects, since both Poppy and her husband were unfaithful. Even the detective in charge of the case, Roe's former lover Arthur Smith, has a past with Poppy.
As if that weren't enough, Roe has rekindled a relationship with another old flame and things are moving fast, with plans to meet his mother at Thanksgiving. She's also acquired an unexpected house guest: her half-brother, who's run away from his parents' home in California. Balancing her personal life while looking into Poppy's murder isn't easy, but Roe is determined to give it — and Poppy — her best effort. And when Roe discovers that the crime scene has been ransacked, she knows someone is desperate to hide a secret. Roe will have to dig through Poppy's life to uncover the truth and bring the killer to justice.
Poppy Done to Death is the engaging eighth installment of the Aurora Teagarden mysteries by #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris. The series has been adapted into film for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. show less
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I'm often rather harsh in my assessments of amateur detectives, but Aurora Teagarden doesn't get any flying arrows from me. I love this character. First of all she's a librarian. She's bright, she's funny, she's mature, and she's smart enough to know when to involve the professionals.
In this latest episode of the series, Roe as she's known, discovers the murdered body of her step-sister-in-law Poppy when Ms. P misses her induction into the Uppity Women club; that same day she accepts custody of her runaway 15 yr old half-brother Phillip, who arrives unannounced for Thanksgiving (she thought he was in California); she confronts her own feelings about parenting, extra-marital sex, and her current relationship to Robin Crusoe the show more author, all while trying to figure out why Poppy was murdered, and then why Poppy's house was trashed AFTER the police finished investigating the crime scene.
All the regulars are there, with new and introspective insights into their characters and motivations. It's an easy cozy read, but has plenty of meat to the plot. I didn't have that AHA moment until nearly the end, and that's the way I enjoy mysteries --- the plot building to a surprise ending, lots of suspects being ruled in/out one at a time. I enjoy most of Charlaine Harris' work but must say I think this series is one of my favorites. I was quite pleased to see that the story left the door wide open for more adventures and a new phase in Ro's life. show less
In this latest episode of the series, Roe as she's known, discovers the murdered body of her step-sister-in-law Poppy when Ms. P misses her induction into the Uppity Women club; that same day she accepts custody of her runaway 15 yr old half-brother Phillip, who arrives unannounced for Thanksgiving (she thought he was in California); she confronts her own feelings about parenting, extra-marital sex, and her current relationship to Robin Crusoe the show more author, all while trying to figure out why Poppy was murdered, and then why Poppy's house was trashed AFTER the police finished investigating the crime scene.
All the regulars are there, with new and introspective insights into their characters and motivations. It's an easy cozy read, but has plenty of meat to the plot. I didn't have that AHA moment until nearly the end, and that's the way I enjoy mysteries --- the plot building to a surprise ending, lots of suspects being ruled in/out one at a time. I enjoy most of Charlaine Harris' work but must say I think this series is one of my favorites. I was quite pleased to see that the story left the door wide open for more adventures and a new phase in Ro's life. show less
Several installments back Aurora Teagarden's mother--the imposing Aida Brattle Teagarden--married John Queensland and, in addition to adding one more surname to her already impressive list, added two stepsons and their wives. At the beginning of Poppy Done to Death the brutally murdered body of one of these stepsisters-in-law--the flamboyant Poppy--is found by poor Roe, who has a knack for finding these things. Yes, some people find lost keys, some find lost pets, Aurora Teagarden finds dead bodies.
Poppy and her husband, it turns out, had a shockingly open marriage (for small town Georgia, at least), but still: why would anyone want to kill her? Roe is aided in her sleuthing this time around by her other step sister-in-law, the more show more conventional Melinda. They learn some truly scandalous things about Poppy (and, it must be added, about several of the male characters, major and minor, we've gotten to know over the course of this series). And guess what--Roe actually solves this mystery, unlike in the past when she's really just stumbled upon the right answer by happenstance. Way to go Roe!
In other news, I'm happy to report that Roe's relationship with ridiculously named writer Robin Crusoe is in full swing. There's an interesting side story involving her half brother Phillip, a fifteen year old who hasn't been seen since their father took him to live in California at the end of the first book. And there's some aw-shucks life-affirming stuff at the end.
The Aurora Teagarden series is always lovely and always satisfying, and Charlaine Harris doesn't disappoint this time around. show less
Poppy and her husband, it turns out, had a shockingly open marriage (for small town Georgia, at least), but still: why would anyone want to kill her? Roe is aided in her sleuthing this time around by her other step sister-in-law, the more show more conventional Melinda. They learn some truly scandalous things about Poppy (and, it must be added, about several of the male characters, major and minor, we've gotten to know over the course of this series). And guess what--Roe actually solves this mystery, unlike in the past when she's really just stumbled upon the right answer by happenstance. Way to go Roe!
In other news, I'm happy to report that Roe's relationship with ridiculously named writer Robin Crusoe is in full swing. There's an interesting side story involving her half brother Phillip, a fifteen year old who hasn't been seen since their father took him to live in California at the end of the first book. And there's some aw-shucks life-affirming stuff at the end.
The Aurora Teagarden series is always lovely and always satisfying, and Charlaine Harris doesn't disappoint this time around. show less
I'm not usually a fan of cozy mysteries but I chose this one to fulfill a reading challenge. Small town librarian Aurora (Roe) Teagarden is planning to attend the induction of her sister-in-law, Poppy Queensland, into the Uppity Women Club. When Poppy fails to show up, she goes to her house determined to lecture her on bad manners. What she discovers is Poppy's body. Roe always thought Poppy’s marriage was strange since both partners took other lovers. Of course, this puts many possible suspects into the mix, including police detective Arthur Smith, one of Roe's former loves.
I thought this was a quick fast read but the characters seemed a little flat to me. Possibly this is because I've never read any of the other books in the series show more and am unfamiliar with their back stories. I have enjoyed other books by Charlaine Harris, especially the Sookie Stackhouse series. show less
I thought this was a quick fast read but the characters seemed a little flat to me. Possibly this is because I've never read any of the other books in the series show more and am unfamiliar with their back stories. I have enjoyed other books by Charlaine Harris, especially the Sookie Stackhouse series. show less
Aurora and her sister-in-law Melanie come across their sister-in-law Poppy's body when they go to check on her after a meeting she didn't show up at. This book was heavily based on infidelity: the victim, her husband, their various lovers and the spouses done wrong, even some peripheral characters. The other plot line involved Aurora's teenage step brother Phillip who shows up unexpectedly. Despite the cheating theme I thought the characters were better developed than the last couple in this series.
I think I liked this one the least of the series. It brought up plot issues (and character details) about minor characters which are not resolved, the character of Robin faded into uninteresting blandness, the brother subplot seemed unnecessary (especially the part about hitchhiking and almost being attacked), and the character of the victim was odd. I also found that Aurora's attitude towards her cat bothered me (I would be more interested in seeking the whereabouts of my cat if he was missing).
Harris' growing obsession with pregnancy (a theme in the last few books of the series) also got on my nerves a bit.
-KK
Harris' growing obsession with pregnancy (a theme in the last few books of the series) also got on my nerves a bit.
-KK
I'm not usually a fan of cozy mysteries but I chose this one to fulfill a reading challenge. Small town librarian Aurora (Roe) Teagarden is planning to attend the induction of her sister-in-law, Poppy Queensland, into the Uppity Women Club. When Poppy fails to show up, she goes to her house determined to lecture her on bad manners. What she discovers is Poppy's body. Roe always thought Poppy’s marriage was strange since both partners took other lovers. Of course, this puts many possible suspects into the mix, including police detective Arthur Smith, one of Roe's former loves.
I thought this was a quick fast read but the characters seemed a little flat to me. Possibly this is because I've never read any of the other books in the series show more and am unfamiliar with their back stories. I have enjoyed other books by Charlaine Harris, especially the Sookie Stackhouse series. show less
I thought this was a quick fast read but the characters seemed a little flat to me. Possibly this is because I've never read any of the other books in the series show more and am unfamiliar with their back stories. I have enjoyed other books by Charlaine Harris, especially the Sookie Stackhouse series. show less
Aurora Teagarden goes to pick up her stepbrother's wife for a lunch date and finds her dead body in the kitchen. She follows up on a few bright ideas and discovers whodunnit.
There was a large and confusing cast of subsidiary characters from Aurora's extended family and her ex and current boyfriends. I had some problems sorting out who was who, but this would be probably not be a problem for someone who read the series in order.
It was a fun read. I had my doubts at first but after the first 20 pages or so I was hooked. I'll definitely being putting the first in the series on my wishlist.
There was a large and confusing cast of subsidiary characters from Aurora's extended family and her ex and current boyfriends. I had some problems sorting out who was who, but this would be probably not be a problem for someone who read the series in order.
It was a fun read. I had my doubts at first but after the first 20 pages or so I was hooked. I'll definitely being putting the first in the series on my wishlist.
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Author Information
151+ Works 175,841 Members
Charlaine Harris was born in Tunica, Mississippi on November 25, 1951. She attended Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. She wrote poetry and plays before beginning to publish mysteries set in the American South. She is the author of the Aurora Teagarden Mystery series, the Lily Bard Mystery series, the Harper Connelly series, and the Sookie show more Stackhouse series. In 2001, the first book in the Sookie Stackhouse series, Dead until Dark, won an Anthony Award for Best Paperback Mystery. The series was adapted as a TV show on HBO called True Blood. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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- Canonical title
- Poppy Done to Death
- Original publication date
- 2003-08-02
- People/Characters
- Aurora "Roe" Teagarden; Poppy Wynn Queensland; Robin Crusoe; Corinne Crusoe; John David Queensland; Chase Queensland (show all 43); Aida Queensland; John Queensland; Avery Queensland; Melinda Queensland; Teresa Stanton; Moosie; Cara Embler; Arthur Smith; Cathy Trumble; Madeline; Lizanne Sewell; Cartland Sewell; Brandon Sewell; Davis Sewell; Marvin Wynn; Sandy Wynn; Aubrey; Emily; Romney Burns; Bryan Pacoe; Perry Allison; Lillian Schmidt; Phillip Teagarden, Jr.; Phil Teagarden; Betty Jo Teagarden; Sam; Zachary Lee; Janie Spellman; Marva; Sally Allison; Josh Finstermeyer; Jocelyn Finstermeyer; Stuart Embler; Marcy Queensland; Charles Queensland; Emma McKibbon; Beth Finstermeyer
- Important places
- Lawrenceton, Georgia, USA (town)
- Dedication
- To my wonderful "second family," Christine and Gregg, Bill and Nancy, Joe and Misty, and Tom and Lori. My luck could not have been better.
- First words
- I paid almost no attention at all to the last conversation I had with my stepsister-in-law, Poppy Queensland.
- Quotations
- Poppy was teetering on the edge of not being 'nice' enough for the club, and since there had been an Uppity Woman in the forties who'd been just barely acquitted of murdering her husband, that was really saying something.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"We'll be fine," I said bravely, and tried to pull up a mental list of what was in the refrigerator.
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