A Bouquet of Thorns Author:John Sherwood Author John Sherwood's delightful botanist sleuth, Celia Grant, returns for her sixth horticultural mystery. — Following in the grand tradition of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple novels, in which supposedly serene villages reveal shocking undercurrents of violence and passion, Celia's village of Melbury has much to hide. — The story starts peaceful... more »ly at the annual village flower show, where Celia reluctantly agrees to fill in as a last-minute replacement judge. Ann Hammond, the doctor's wife, will advise Celia on which entries meet the committee's arcane requirements. All Celia has to do is attach the blue ribbons.
Simple enough, surely, but it's at the flower show that all the trouble begins. When Eileen Bradshaw, wife of the newly arrived manager of the paper mill, makes an appearance at the show, all eyes turn from the potted plants to Eileen. She bears a striking resemblance to Barbara Berridge, who left the village 18 years ago, pregnant and in disgrace.
Celai likes Barbara and tries in general to stay aloof from local gossip. But a violent death and the arrest of somebody close to Celia force her into the fray.
A Bouquet of Thorns, rich in characterization, setting, and plot, is mesmerizing entertainment from a superbly talented writer. Readers will long remember Celia Grant and her extraordinary village.« less