Dearly Depotted

A Flower Shop Mystery #3

by Kate Collins

Abby has her hands full at her cousin Jillian's wedding as florist, bridesmaid, and grandma-sitter-all while wearing a hideous dress. Then the groom's 90-year-old grandmother goes missing from the reception. On her search, Abby finds the corpse of guest Jack Snyder. Now she must find out who killed Jack in the pulpit.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Contemporary

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 5, 2005

About the author

Indiana native and former teacher Kate Collins is the author of the New York Times best-selling Flower Shop Mysteries, featuring feisty florist Abby Knight and the zany crew at Bloomers. Her books have made the New York Times Best-seller's list, Barnes & Noble mass bestsellers lists, the Independent Booksellers lists, and are available in large print editions in the U.S. and the UK.

3 of The Flower Shop Mysteries are on the Hallmark Mystery Movie channel!

Kate's historical romance novels and her children's books, JANEY WEBSTER, EB*, *EXPERIENCED BABYSITTER, and JASON JERVISS AT YOUR SERVICE, are available now as ebooks in all formats. Great reads for ages 9-14.

Kate graduated from Purdue University with a master's degree in education, taught elementary school for six years, but after the birth of her first child, gave up teaching to pursue a long-time dream of putting children’s stories to paper. After writing short humorous stories for children’s magazines and working part-time as a legal secretary, she sold her first historical romance novel in 1995, publishing seven historical romantic suspenses under the pen name Linda O’Brien before turning to her true love, mysteries.

Reviews

[Luffy Sempai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I could do ample justice to praising Dearly Depotted. Every superlative that I could use has already been employed by others, or by me, but in other reviews. I'll keep this one simple. First, it's sometimes a bonus when the murderer is a sympathetic woman. 'Cherchez la femme' and all that. I can't explain why, not really. The recurring cast of this series are till now beyond blame, yet I still could not guess the culprit among the few new people. And I was amused by the Grace character being possibly the inspiration for Graceland. That was clever. The ending, with the arrival of the newly wed promises more chaos for future books. I'm expectant as to what book will improve on this 4/5 score and get a perfect score. Can't wait.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this series just keeps getting better and better! This was an excellent part of what is shaping up to be an excellent series, from crazy cousins to an epic fight scene, this book was wonderful.

Abby is once again back to sleuthing and she's great at it. I think one of my favorite parts about Abby and this series is the fact that Abby knows that she doesn't know everything. In this book she makes some mistakes, and when they're pointed out to her she doesn't complain of shove the blame on someone else, she fesses up to the mistakes. She also actually works at her job! That may seem like a given, but in many mysteries the MC supposedly has a job they love, but when they sleuth they never are at the job. This book as a lot of scenes where Abby is actually working, it was a nice change.

This is the first real book where we saw Pryce as he really was, a jerk. Before we'd heard about him and seen him briefly, ut he had never really been in the forefront. In this book, however, he is one of the major supporting characters; I now know why Abby dumped him. You also see character growth in Marco, you learn more about his family and their problems and it shows that he's an A+ guy.

The mystery was also wonderfully plotted. The killer was never on my suspects list or on Abby's but they fit in so well that it was great.

Overall an exceptionally well-written and plotted story. Looking forward to the next one!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun and easy reading series. I really enjoy Abby's twists and turns in her floral shoppe.

[Erica Chaillot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and these characters. It is fairly becoming one of my favorite cozy series.

[Amy Webster-Bo · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good book, i am loving the series so far, and will probably continue to read them

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abby's neurotic cousin, Jillian, is finally getting married and Abby has agreed to do the flowers and be a bridesmaid. She wasn't counting on dead bodies. But when the groom's grandmother discovers one under a table, Abby jumps in to investigate. The police already have a suspect - her friend's new boyfriend. But Abby thinks they are too quick to draw conclusions. Oh, and what's going on with her hottie escort?

This is the third in a fun series. I enjoyed this one and the others, but I just don't enjoy books like this as much as I used to. The idea of a amateur detective gets a little hard to believe after a while. And why can't she figure out what's going on with Marco? This is the third book and there's been an attraction between them the whole time. Then she FALLS ASLEEP when she finally gets to spend an evening alone with him? What's up with that? I'm all for taking things slow, but she hasn't even decided if they are dating or not. How long is that going to take?

If you like cozy mysteries, this is a fun series. I like the characters, although Jillian is a bit much, and there's not this shove-it-down-your-throat thing that a lot of the 'theme cozies' seem to have. Yes, she's a florist, but it's not a DIY book for aspiring green thumbs. For myself, I would probably read another in the series if I got the chance, but I'm not going to go out and look for one.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby just can't catch a break from her 'meddling' tendencies! I really like that these books are written with almost no time lapses... there's no months or years between each story, usually just days (or a couple of weeks). The tension with Marco, Greg's attention to Abby and the stupidity of Pryce make this a Merry-go-round of fun!

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars grudgingly rounded up to 3 Stars.
This is the third book in the Flower Shop Mystery Series and the best I can say about this series so far is that it is a comic parody of a cozy mystery. It has the ingredients of a classic cozy a quaint small town (in the hoosier state of Indiana), odd quirky side characters, a nosey amateur sleuth who owns a flower shop and coffee parlor who keeps finding dead bodies and hunts down clues leading to precarious and dangerous situations and an attractive male romantic interest, also throw in a police force that never seems to figure who is the correct villain. But when you combine these ingredients the writing style just doesn't reach a top level cozy, at least not yet which I hope improves with further releases since book #1 (read in 2017) where I found the scenarios put forth just too ridiculous even for a cozy. Another point is the obnoxious cliffhanger endings which are I suppose there to hook the reader into the next book but for me are just that plain obnoxious.

Book #1 Mum's the Word 1 Star
Book #2 Slay it with Flowers 2 Stars
Book #3 Dearly Depotted 2.5 Stars

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Kate Collins's Dearly Depotted, the first installment in the Flower Shop Cozy Mystery series, this cozy will intrigue you from the first page to the last. It all started when Abby's cousin Jillian had cold feet for her wedding. Before she could get to the altar, she needed to talk some sense into her cousin. And when she does tie the knot, that's when things erupted in mayhem. Outside of the gazebo, her uncle had gotten into a fight with his daughter's no-good boyfriend, Jack Snyder. And when he was later found dead, it made things a lot worse. It had thrown a lot of suspicion to a lot of people who wanted to see him dead. It was up to Abby to team up with Marco to get to the bottom of it, especially when she wanted to help her friend Grace out by clearing her boyfriend Richard's name. And that was to sort the truth from the lies, the fact from fiction, when she wan't back down from mere threats. When she had a name on the culprit, it was a matter of life and death to have justice being served....

[Rosey · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

Jack Snyder is not a nice guy and Abby finds him dead at her annoying cousin's wedding. Another body shows up and Abby is all for finding out what happened. Book #1 I loved. The plot to book #2 really didn't catch me so I skipped it and for some reason I really didn't care too much about this one. I really liked Abby and in this book she was kinda annoying. I really liked the Grandma of Abby's ex. She was pretty funny. Abby and Marco are ALMOST there to hook up but things always end up getting in the way. Marco is yummy and I hope in future books Abby isn't annoying.

Liked: Marco
Disliked: Boring
Book Cover: Cute
Characters: Likable
Favorite Character: Marco
Writing: Good
Plot: Okay
Ending: Fine

http://www.roseysreview.com/2012/01/b...

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 3rd book in the Flower Shop Mystery Series.

Fun and light read. Not quite to the fun level of Janet Evanovich - but in the ballpark.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Fun adventure with Abby and the gang, can't wait to see what happens next. #readforkimberly

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

:-)

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abby has several hats to wear at her cousin, Jillian’s, wedding: bridesmaid, florist, and now she’s been tabbed with keeping an eye on the groom’s grandmother. When Grandma Osborne doodles off, Abby tracks her down to the gazebo outside the reception, where she stumbles across a dead body. The victim is Jack Snyder, who got into a fight with another wedding guest earlier and was ousted, and who apparently returned. Since Snyder had no shortage of enemies, the police are looking at several suspects, including the gentleman friend of Abby’s employee, Grace. Grace implores Abby to help clear Richard’s name, and Abby reluctantly agrees. Now she’s following up on leads, questioning other guests, and trying to pry information out of the police and the county prosecutor. At least Marco, an actual PI, has agreed to help. The fact that he’s easy on the eyes is simply an added bonus.

While I have to admire Abby’s pluck and enthusiasm, she sure does some stupid things. It’s a wonder no one murdered her while she was investigating. Both Jillian and Abby’s mother are complete ditzes, and I wanted to knock their heads together. Characters were three-dimensional, including new/transient ones, and the plot progressed quickly. It would have been nice to see Abby doing less investigating and more living/working.

Enjoyable, and interesting. Four stars.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby is doing the flowers for your cousin's wedding and trying to make sure the bride makes it down the isle. This is her cousins 4th wedding attempt and this time she's marring the brother of Abby's former fiancé. When in the middle of the wedding a fight breaks outs between the uncle of the bride and his daughters baby daddy. The baby dad later ends up dead discovered by the grooms grandmother and Abby not far behind,
One of Abby's friend's boyfriend is accused of the murder so of course Abby has to help find the true killer so make her friend feel better.

This was a fun read and I love watching the relationships grow between the characters. With that said I have watched the Hallmark movie for this book and kept saying in my head they screwed the movie up big time. I know they can't keep everything the same but seriously this was messed up. I will defiantly keep reading the books but the movies not so much lol.

[Linda C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abby Knight is finally, hopefully, getting her often engaged but cold-footed cousin Jillian married, providing the flowers and being part of the wedding party. It is touch and go, especially when a fight breaks out amongst guests and later a body is discovered in the gazebo. As Jillian goes off on her honeymoon, Abby starts looking into the murder when her friend Grace's new gentleman friend is a suspect. Abby considers herself a PI in training under Marco, but she has a lot to learn. This almost was a 3 star because of some stuff she does but the admission of doing it wrong and Marco trying to push her in the right direction saves it this time. In future volumes I hope she shows she is learning and she builds up a little backbone concerning her cousin and family.

[Barbara Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really am enjoying the Flower Shop Mystery series by Kate Collins. They are fun to read and a great way to relax and escape a bit. In dearly departed, Jillian is trying to make it down the aisle again (the last time a groomsman ended up dead before the wedding!) This time all the attendants make it to the wedding alive and well, but then during the wedding an unexpected guest pops up dead! What's a girl to do? Fortunately Jillian's cousin, Abby, is there. Abby is owner of Bloomers flower shop and an amatuer sleuth (a.k.a. nosey to a fault!). When her assistant's fella becomes the prime suspect, Abby decides to find out who killed Jack in the pulpit and she needs to do it quickly!

[Linda M · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a fun series and book
Abby runs a flower shop. She not only is a bridesmaid for her narcissistic cousin but she is in charge with the flowers for this and a 4th of July party of a wealthy customer which are on the same day. It doesn't help when a guest is found dead at the wedding of her annoying spoiled out of touch cousin. Now she has to find out who killed Jack and the prime suspect is a relative of the brides side of the family.

I really love this series. I find myself finishing the book and ordering 2 at a time because they aren't in stock and don't want to wait between books. #FlowerShopMystery

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eventually I will get these books read in order. But until then I will just enjoy reading them. Excellent author with super characterizations that continue from book to book - no sudden changes. Just great stories, very vivid setting. a touch or romance always hinted at, gentle mysteries and fun to read.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this third novel in the Flower Shop Mystery series by Kate Collins. Abby is a likable character, and the same is true for her love interest Marco. The ending of this story surprised me, though I'm not looking forward to more of Abby's cousin Jillian in the next story. Jillian is one character who serves to annoy more than anything else.

[Teryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one has all the makings of a great book and succeeds--PG-rated language, a smart and sassy heroine, and a twisty plot. I was left guessing "whodunit" until the very last pages. I will definitely be checking out more books from the author, Kate Collins, to continue reading about the adventures of Abby Knight, Florist Shop owner/law school drop out.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, Abby was very real. I loved grandma, what a hoot! Between being the florist and the maid of honor at her cousin’s wedding, she had a full day. And then add grandma-sitting to the mix, she had her work cut out for her. When grandma disappeared, and then found a body, whew! Naturally curious, Abby can’t help getting involved in the mystery. Kept me guessing until almost the end.

[Chaitra · Rating 3 out of 5]

She took an awfully long time figuring out the mystery but Abby is growing on me. It helped that she actually worked at her flower shop, and worked in her mystery solving time with deliveries for the most part. She isn't discreet at all though, and that bugs me. She should have been better able to hold her tongue. Not believable as a sleuth if she's the one blabbing all over the place.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I randomly picked this book when i was looking for a cozy mystery. Turned out to be a good one. I wasnt able to guess whodunnit in the end. And after reading this, i learned this Flower Shop Mystery was made into a Hallmark Mystery Series on TV last 2016 starring Brooke Shields!

[Karen Christino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming, delightful and funny book. Fun and quirky characters (especially Abby the protagonist, her ex-fiance and Grandma), great plot and surprising resolution. I listened to the audiobook, the reader does well with the many voices and captures the droll humor.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really silly cozy. Poor Abby is very put-upon by her family, especially her cousin. Her insecurity over her weight, height, relationship, etc, gets really tiresome, but there’s a lot of humor and kindness in the book.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed something more light than what I have been reading lately. This book have me what I needed. I was intrigued and enjoyed the story.

Book Reading Challenge 2021 - A book from your "to be read" list.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good cozy mystery series depends on its cast of characters and this series has great ones. This is a fun wedding gone bad mystery. I really liked it.

Caution: Never work
For a relative, because
It never ends well.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a murder at her cousin, Jullian's wedding. Can Abby solve the murder and save her friend Grace's boyfriend?

Another wonderful book in this series. The shop is an incredible setting, and the characters are like coming home to see old friends.

[Anissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best so far but I likely will not continue with this series. I came to this from the Hallmark movies and have to say, I like movie-Abby best. Meh on recommendation, there are better cozies to get into. If you must, get these from the library.