Redheaded Reviews: Murder in the Secret Garden by Ellery Adams

Monday, June 29, 2020

Murder in the Secret Garden by Ellery Adams

There's a point toward the end of this novel that Jane Steward, the heroine asks herself Have I misjudged others as well? and you're screaming at the book Well Yes, just about everyone you've come in contact with this book, you idiot! I have no idea what her problem was in this book but the author has her going off on so many people and thinking the absolute worst of everyone; Especially Edwin whose only crime is having not rushed back with the manuscript. But she doesn't wait for a logical explanation he's guilty as charged. Although, he finds ways around that. He is a clever man and used to being punished.

Anyway, two things are going on at the hotel: The Medieval Herbalists are having their annual meeting and Victoria and Connor are getting married. Victoria's sister, Hannah is a medieval herbalist and she suggested the place to Victoria as a place to get married at. The herbalists are a calm bunch, though, one Kira Grace had taken photos of one of the herbalists who was married to the Poison Princess, a famous herbalist who grows and talks about poisonous plants. When Kira is found dead of poisoning the husband and wife and the Poison Princess are all questioned but they have alibis. Who else was Kira blackmailing?

Tom, the local plant store owner is offered membership if he takes the group to meet the druid and see his garden. Tom does this knowing that it will anger the druid because he wants answers. Someone kills the druid. Was it for what he was doing now or something he did in his old life? On top of that, an ancient herbal text that was locked but on display in the library has gone missing. Who has stolen this book that came from the special hidden library?

Truth be told this was not one of my favorite books. I did enjoy it when she finally turned to Eloise, her best friend after seeing the druid die and having an overall really bad day.. She gives her a shot of really fine whiskey then makes her a cup of coffee with whiskey in it, Then she closes her shop and goes with her to be with her as she does whatever else needs to be done. That's a true friend and that's what my friends would do for me. Only we'd skip the coffee cause I hate coffee and just pour me another shot. The ending sucks and takes some getting used to to come to accept it. I hope for better things in the next book. I give this four out of five stars.

Quotes

The night flowers see but one moon

-Jean Ingelow

The heart wants what it wants—or else it does not care.

-Emily Dickenson

Men go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.

-Thoreau

Some people go to priests; others to poetry; I to my friends.

-Virginia Wolf

We all keep parts of our stories hidden, Jane thought. A chapter or two buried deeply within ourselves so that it can’t hurt us anymore. But the words and images find a way to the light. They always find a way. Stories aren’t meant to be hidden. Even the ugliest, most painful ones must be revealed or they’ll rot inside of us like moldy pages.

-Ellery Adams (Murder in the Secret Garden p 254)

A mountain keeps an echo deep inside itself. That’s how I hold your voice.

-“Buoyancy”