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8th out of 13 books
—
6 voters
The Scarlet Pepper (A White House Gardener Mystery #2)
As the White House's organic gardener, Casey Calhoun is up to her elbows in dirt. But when someone starts tampering with the Presidential vegetable garden, embarrassing the First lady-and a hard-nosed investigative reporter is found dead, Casey realizes that the next thing buried in the dirt might just be her...
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
April 3rd 2012
by Berkley
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Casey Calhoun works at The White House as the assistant gardener. In this installment we are focused on the First Lady’s Kitchen Garden. It hasn’t been classified as an “organic garden” yet, but Casey is using organic procedures as they work toward that goal. There are rumors running rampant in the media about the garden. It is being said that Casey is replacing plants to make it seem that the plants are growing faster than they actually are and that the ground is full of lead making the vegetab...more
Though I found the White House gardener Casey Calhoun a little giddy and off centered when it comes to solving mysteries, she clearly is a dedicated gardener, devoted to excellence in tending the vegetables in the First Lady's organic garden.
Casey thinks she has discovered the killers of two reporters in the White House Press Corps and pursues that trail relentlessly. In the meantime, she tries to find out who is sabotaging the vegetables in the White House garden, discovers the secrets of anot...more
Casey thinks she has discovered the killers of two reporters in the White House Press Corps and pursues that trail relentlessly. In the meantime, she tries to find out who is sabotaging the vegetables in the White House garden, discovers the secrets of anot...more
This was the second book in the series, and I thought it was an enjoyable read. I did think it was a bit easy to guess who the killer was, and Casey does seem to be a magnet for trouble, but it was interesting to learn a bit about the White House gardens. This was an entertaining addition to the series, and I look forward to more adventures with Casey.
I really liked this book - it's a nice blend of gardening, mystery, and a hint of romance. The Washington D.C./White House setting makes for a fun backdrop to the story as well. I guessed the culprit about 2/3 of the way through, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story or the characters, all of whom are well written, lively and likeable. What did detract from my enjoyment, and the reason I didn't give this book 5 stars, is the way the main character, Casey, latched on to a suspect...more
Casey Calhoun, Asst. Gardener and official organic gardener is excited for the up-coming harvest of the First Lady's Kitchen Garden. The Harvest is going to be done with volunteers and school children eating the first harvest under the guidance of the Whitehouse Chef's.
A cloud emerges over the festivity when not only is someone destroying the garden, but also, is killing off newspaper reporters that have issues with Casey's project.
Soon, it becomes clear that Casey may also be in the killer's s...more
A cloud emerges over the festivity when not only is someone destroying the garden, but also, is killing off newspaper reporters that have issues with Casey's project.
Soon, it becomes clear that Casey may also be in the killer's s...more
The Scarlett Pepper is the second book in The White House Gardener Mystery series. And a very enjoyable addition it is.
The time is getting close to the day that the First Lady will be harvesting from the Kitchen Garden, with the press in attendance. Casey Calhoun, along with the White House Garden volunteers are busily doing last minute work in the garden. One of the volunteers, who is also the wife of the Press Secretary for the President is very concerned about an article that is being written...more
The time is getting close to the day that the First Lady will be harvesting from the Kitchen Garden, with the press in attendance. Casey Calhoun, along with the White House Garden volunteers are busily doing last minute work in the garden. One of the volunteers, who is also the wife of the Press Secretary for the President is very concerned about an article that is being written...more
I really like this series, the second book was just as compelling as the first, the characters had developed, te plot was tight and there were many options of who-dunnit!!!!
The book is a nice read that you will not want to put down. Every time I ad to leaqve it, I did so reluctantly, eager to get back to the action.
There is a little bit of everything included in the story; romance, historical fact, White House protocool, gardening tips, murder, mystery ---- all brought together by realistic and...more
Casey Calhoun is a gardener at the White House who likes a mystery. This book has 3 mysteries to be solved, the killer, the garden and Casey's past. Every chapter starts with a quote from a former President which I loved some are funny some so true. With lots of gardening going on it's hard not to rush out and put your hands in the soil. And Casey and Jack's romance takes baby steps but it's moving forward.
This was a twisting and turning mystery where you were never sure until almost the very end who the killer was. I still feel as though these are not as "cozy" as some other books classified as "cozy". Dorothy St. James has created characters that you do want to read about and follow as well as learning about gardening and plants. I will be sure to read the next one in the series. Who knows what the next White House Gardener Mystery will bring.
Two books in the White House Gardener series and I'm already a huge fan. The glimpses of inside White House operations are a real treat and the gardening info is fun as well. Casey is a spunky heroine whose back story promises to get very intriguing.
So far, a really boring murder mystery set at the White House. Pretty much the main character is a gardener at the White House. A mean reporter gets killed and people start blaming her. Sounds a bit cliched doesn't it? Well, it is and is is super boring.
I loved this book. I really did not want to put it down but had too. It is a very good 2nd book and I look forward to reading more about the White House Garden and its gardeners.
Casey, assistant gardener at the White House, is waiting for the group's first harvest of the garden in the South Lawn. But she is finding more trouble than veggies in the garden.
The second in the "White House Gardener Mystery" series.
After all the negative that has been in the news regarding the Secret Service in recent weeks, it's nice to read something good [about them] for a change.
I'm also learning more about the White House and how things operate -- very interesting.
After all the negative that has been in the news regarding the Secret Service in recent weeks, it's nice to read something good [about them] for a change.
I'm also learning more about the White House and how things operate -- very interesting.
Not quite as good as the first book, some of the murder characters get a little confusing. I enjoyed the gardening discussions though. Beautiful cover art
Not a bad little mystery. Good insight into the Whitehouse, though I don't enjoy this series as well as the books by Julie Hyzy
apparently this is not going to be one of my series --- Dull.
The solution was way too obvious to me, and the heroine so dense...and I'm not one to easily solve mysteries.
Started out kind of confusing, but got better as I continued reading.
I enjoyed this book, it really picked up the pace. Casey sure was stressed, all the pressure on her for the garden. Glad to see Jack take a step forward. Looking forward to the next book!
Good read, figured out who the killer was half way through. Not as funny as the first book, but still enjoyed. Looking forward to the 3rd in the series
May 05, 2013
Claudette Neal
marked it as to-read
May 03, 2013
Sarah
marked it as to-read
May 02, 2013
Jenn M
marked it as mystery-cozy-contemporary
Apr 29, 2013
Ronna
is currently reading it
Apr 28, 2013
Michele Massores
marked it as to-read
Apr 26, 2013
Marianthi
marked it as to-read
Apr 26, 2013
Celia
is currently reading it
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Mystery author Dorothy St. James was born in New York but raised in South Carolina. She makes her home on an artsy island community in South Carolina with her husband, tiny little dog and fluffy cat. Though writing has always been a passion for her, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Urban Planning. She put her educational exp...more
More about Dorothy St. James...
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