Acts
of Violets
A Flower Shop Mystery with Abby
Knight
Kate Collins
Signet (Mass
Market Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-451-22074-9 (0451220749)
ISBN-13: 978-0-451-22074-5 (9780451220745)
Publication Date: March 2007
List Price: $6.99
Synopsis (from the publisher): During the annual Pickle Fest, Abby Knight's boyfriend Marco Salvare inexplicably disappears for a day. When he returns, he's the main suspect in the death of a clown. It seems the cops have found Snuggles pushing up water-spurting daisies—and Marco was the last person seen leaving Snuggles's house. Although Marco is still a mystery to her, Abby knows he's innocent. Now she has to find a way to prove it.
Review: Acts of Violets
is the disappointing fifth entry in the Flower Shop mystery series by
Kate Collins. The series features florist Abby Knight who owns the
Bloomers flower shop in (fictional) New Chapel, Indiana.
While attending the annual Pickle Fest, Abby is accosted by Snuggles
the Clown. Nothing serious transpires, but when Abby mentions it to her
boyfriend of several months, ex-cop and part-time private investigator
Marco Salvare, he suddenly leaves the area. Abby is convinced that he's
off to have a word with Snuggles, but then disappears for a day. Abby
next hears about him when he's called in as a suspect in the death of a
man, one Dennis Ryson also known as Snuggles the Clown. Marco asks Abby
to help clear him name: "I need you to
do what you do best. Snoop, pry, poke, eavesdrop, meddle—you
know, make a nuisance of yourself." And she's off
on a one-woman crusade to find the real culprit.
Ryson wasn't the most pleasant man in his neighborhood, and Abby soon
narrows down the list of suspects to one of his neighbors. It's at this
point in the book that one gets a sense that Collins is simply biding
time with Abby, giving her things to do but not moving the story along
much. Part of the problem is in the character of Marco and how Abby
interacts with him. It's at times an elusive concept to be sure, but
there's no chemistry between them. It goes well beyond the doubts Abby
may have about their relationship; it's awkward and uncomfortable.
In the end, Collins manages to cleverly link a natural product and the
flower in the title to Ryson's murder, but it all seems far too little
too late. Acts of
Violets is rather harmless reading and mildly entertaining
but there are better choices in this genre.
Special thanks to Kate Collins for providing an ARC of Acts of Violets for this review.
Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.
Mysteries in this series ...
Mum's the Word
Signet (Mass market paperback), September 2004
ISBN-10: 0-451-21350-5 (0451213505)
Slay it with
Flowers
Signet (Mass market paperback), March 2005
ISBN-10: 0-451-21455-2 (0451214552)
Dearly Depotted
Signet (Mass market paperback), July 2005
ISBN-10: 0-451-21585-0 (0451215850)
Snipped in the
Bud
Signet (Mass market paperback), May 2006
ISBN-10: 0-451-21831-0 (0451218310)
Acts of Violets
Signet (Mass market paperback), March 2007
ISBN-10: 0-451-22074-9 (0451220749)
ISBN-13: 978-0-451-22074-5 (9780451220745)
A
Rose from the
Dead
Signet (Mass market paperback), December 2007
ISBN-10: 0-451-22241-5 (0451222415)
ISBN-13: 978-0-451-22241-1 (9780451222411)
Omnimystery keywords for Acts of Violets ...
Location(s) referenced: Indiana.