Review : Nightshade on Elm Street by Kate Collins

Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

Expected publication: November 6th 2012 by Signet

ISBN: 0451238508 (ISBN13: 9780451238504)

edition language:English

series: A Flower Shop Mystery #13

From the publisher:

 In addition to running her flower shop, planning her wedding, and juggling two mothers who both want to host an elaborate bridal shower, Abby Knight is facing another complication. Her ditzy cousin Jillian asks her and her longtime beau, Marco, a private detective, to find a woman who’s gone missing from the exclusive beach house belonging to Jillian’s in-laws, the Osbornes. The missing woman is also the fiancée of Pryce Osborne, a wet noodle with a big bank account who dumped Abby just before their wedding several years ago. Merely being anywhere near Pryce makes Abby’s insecurities grow like kudzu….

Then a woman’s drowned body surfaces, and Pryce becomes a prime suspect in her death. Unless Abby and Marco can get a killer to come clean, their bridal shower will turn into a complete washout...and Pryce will be exchanging a sunny beach for a prison cell.

My thoughts: Each book in the Flower Shop series is always fun! I like the way Ms. Collins mixes up her characters; some are quirky and a real hoot, some are downright pretentious and some are a lot more lovable and sensible than others. It's a nice balance. 

This mystery started out well and then there was a real twist not too far into the story. I like that when a mystery author throws in something a little unexpected while still maintaining a well paced plot. You know how I insist on there being real suspects with credible motives. Don't worry on that score. Ms. Collins has all those bases covered BUT I did have one quibble with the story. A quibble that costs the rating a 1/2*. I'm not a fan of the plot when the protagonist does what I term "a stupid thing" such as getting an anonymous note telling them to meet at a deserted location at night. No, no no! I want to shout, "Don't go" or "don't be stupid" but yet in this case, Abby went where she was told. Arrrgh.

It did all end well and the big reveal made sense but still I'm giving the book 3.5*. I've read almost every one in the series and they still feel fresh to me. The characters have been allowed to grow and that makes them feel more real to me.

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by the author, Kate Collins, in exchange for my honest opinion.