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Aldermaston’s having a bad day. A falling hanging-basket has killed the town’s mayor, and a second narrowly missed him. His wife wants him to build her new greenhouse in three days, and someone is sending him death threats.
This isn’t the quiet life he expected as the new Marquess of Mortiforde.
It’s the annual Borders in Blossom competition, and Mortiforde is battling with Portley Ridge in the final. But this is no parochial flower competition. The mayor’s mishap looks like murder, and there’s another body in the river. Someone desperately wants Portley Ridge to win for the fifteenth successive year.
So when a mysterious group of guerrilla gardeners suddenly carpet bomb Mortiforde with a series of stunning floral delights one night, a chain reaction of floral retaliation ensues.
Can Aldermaston survive long enough to uncover who is trying to kill him, and why? And can he get his wife’s greenhouse built in time?
Book Details
eBook ISBN: 9781838078690
Paperback ISBN: 9781838078683
Publication Date: 25th May 2021
Click Here Download The First Chapter For Free!
“For fans of M.C. Beaton: Aldermaston, the Marquess of Mortiforde, is eager to oversee the local flower competition. But when a hanging basket takes out the mayor and guerilla gardeners pop up overnight, Aldermaston will have to solve the case — before he’s the one pushing up daisies!”
BookBub
Reviews from the 4th to 12th July 2021 Blog Tour
Here’s what happened on the Blooming Murder blog tour …
“My god, did I enjoy this novel. I like a cheeky cozy crime at times and I read the synopsis and thought, I have to get myself some of that. But it far exceeded my expectations.
Blooming Murder is, essentially, what would happen if Gardener’s World had an illicit love child by Midsomer Murders via the work of Tom Sharpe. And it’s all the better for it.”
PAJ Newman
“This is one of the best books I have read for a long time and is one which would make a marvellous television series. With devilish and hilarious goings on amongst the blooms, it is jam-packed full of wonderful and very likeable eccentric characters with a deliciously wicked streak of humour running through it. I loved every page and laughed my socks off at some bits. I can’t wait to read book two. 5*”
The Word is Out Now
“With its distinctive characters and quirky humour, this cosy mystery is absorbing and addictive.
The amateur detective is likeable with a kind and intelligent personality that shines through. Exuberant characters remain credible, and the plot is full of suspects and twists that keep the reader guessing. It’s a quintessential English cosy mystery despite being set on the Welsh borders and will appeal to anyone who enjoys a laugh whilst trying to work out whodunnit?”
Jane Hunt Books
“The writing is addicting. I had trouble putting this one down and it was easy to be hooked. I really enjoyed the writing.
The characters are excellent and I loved the bits of humor that the dialog and actions added. It kept this cosy and fun, which is why I enjoy this genre.”
Jessica Belmont
“I loved this book and laughed such a lot at the going-ons in the village. A brilliant tale of jealousy, revenge and green fingered criminality.
I can not wait until the next book.”
The Divine Write
Whoever said that life was quiet in the countryside has clearly never been to Mortiforde! Simon Whaley’s Blooming Murder is a terrific cosy mystery perfect for Agatha Raisin fans. Full of eccentric characters, bucolic mayhem and mischief and village shenanigans, Blooming Murder is a fun, witty and entertaining mystery peppered with humour, intrigue and nail-biting suspense.
An entertaining cosy mystery readers will devour in one sitting, I cannot wait to read further installments of the Marquess of Mortiforde series.
Bookish Jottings
“Whaley’s writing style is straight-forward and hooks you instantly, and his plot builds steadily from there.
Blooming Murder is a charming, engaging novel.”
Bibliotica
Read my interview on the Books, Life and Everything blog.
Read my interview on the R E Loten blog.
Blooming Murder reads like a mix of Father Brown and Rosemary & Thyme with the humor of Monty Python. The sheer amount of floral puns and innuendo propagated throughout had me laughing helplessly and marveling at the author’s cleverness and audacity!
PuzzlePaws
If you’re looking for a funny, cosy mystery with a cracking pace, you’ve come to the right place. Quintessentially British humour is in abundance here, as are the blooms … and the dead bodies.
Now, the characters’ names might be tongue-twisters, but they perfectly sum up the vibe of this story – think of it as a mash-up of Carry On films, The Darling Buds of May and an Agatha Christie mystery and you’ll be primed for the Borders in Blossom competition where innuendo and double entendres are in full bloom.
Just4mybooks
To me, this came across Midsummer Murders meets a Carry On film!
curledupwithagoodbook
The story has a lot of twists and turns to keep you guessing who the culprit is and the characters are so quirky they made me laugh a lot.
Furthermore, it’s written so greatly it kept me turning pages.
A funny and entertaining cozy mystery!
The Magic of Wor(l)ds
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is a piece of ridiculous, riotous fun. If you are a fan of Midsomer Murders, with its pretty settings, eccentric characters and bizarre and convoluted murders, you will absolutely love this novel.
a little bookproblem
“There are echoes of Agatha Raisin but the author’s style of writing and characters are very original and I loved them.”
scrapping and playing