"An engaging debut with a spirited sleuth, quirky sidekicks, and page-turning action." Nancy J. Cohen, author of the Bad Hair Day Mysteries "Move over Stephanie Plum. Abby Knight has come to town." Denise Swanson, author of the Scumble River Mysteries "As fresh as a daisy, with a bouquet of irresistible characters..." Elaine Viets, author of Dead End Job Mysteries "Kate Collins carefully cultivates clues, plants surprising suspects, and harvests a killer in this fresh and frolicsome new Flower Shop Mystery series." Ellen Byerrum, author of A Crime of Fashion Mystery series

Mum’s the Word
Kate Collins

First in the new Flower Shop Mystery series

I don’t meddle, honest! But can I help it if my nose for injustice is as keen as my green thumb? Now, I, Abby Knight, law school dropout, am the proud new owner of Bloomers, my hometown flower shop. I’m devoted to making my business grow—but I’m no shrinking violet if someone needs my help to right a wrong—even if that person is already dead….

So maybe Abby’s life isn’t the bed of roses she was hoping it would be. She adores her job, but a new low-cost competitor is killing her profits—and a black SUV just rammed her vintage Corvette in a hit-and-run. Determined to track down the driver, she accepts the help of hunky ex- cop Marco Salvare. But their budding relationship is threatened when the trail turns deadly. Now Abby is caught in a tangle of menacing phone calls, police corruption, and murderous road rage. If she’s not careful, the next flower arrangement might be for her own funeral….

(A Flower Shop Mystery)
Signet, November 2004
ISBN #0451213505
304 pages Paperback
$5.99