Purloined Poinsettia

Motts Cold Case Mystery #4

by Dahlia Donovan

Murder comes knocking when a killer hunts for budding amateur detective Pineapple "Motts" Mottley in the fourth novel of the Motts Cold Case Mystery series. The past and present collide for Motts when two serial killer brothers barge into her plans for Christmas in London. Her desire to solve her childhood friend's murder brings her ever closer to danger. She finds herself one fall away from the grave herself.
When one of her former primary school teachers winds up dead in her burning house, Motts realizes the mystery is far more twisted than she ever imagined.
Is she running out of time to catch not one but two killers?
What sort of macabre gift will Motts find wrapped under the tree?

Genres: Mystery, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Mystery Thriller, LGBT, Cozy Mystery, Fiction

207 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 6, 2022

About the author

Dahlia Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about shifters and damsels in distress. She prefers irreverent humour and unconventional characters. An autistic and occasional hermit, her life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive collection of books and video games.

Reviews

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series was really cute, and this book ties it all up nicely. Cozy mysteries a fun cast of characters and delicious sounding food.

[aspeccharactersoftheday]

Pineapple “Motts” Mottley from Poisoned Primrose is asexual!

https://aspeccharactersoftheday.tumbl...

[Kayla Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun with this cozy mystery! And (almost) all the characters were so lovely to spend time with. Pineapple “Motts” Mottley comes home to London for the holidays, bringing her hairless cat Cactus (I’m obsessed with this name) and …a stalker? She spends Christmas break arguing with her overbearing/terrible mother, hanging out with friends/family, and working with her pal, DCI Dempsey, to solve the murders of her former classmates. Oh and also trying to avoid being murdered herself. Restful!

For me, the characters are the main selling point for Purloined Poinsettia. Motts is very charming and funny and cares deeply for her friends and her cat. She is 40, autistic, asexual, and biromantic, which, more of all of this in books. And just, all media. Please. Motts has a crew of friends who are silly and always looking out for each other. And DCI Dempsey is so considerate it is like, swoon worthy. Who knew that was a thing. Toward the end of the book, Motts returns to her cottage in Cornwall, and her little village is, of course, quaint and full of delightful personalities. While I loved so many characters in Purloined Poinsettia, special shout out to Motts’s grandad, who is always up for an adventure, looks out for Motts, and charms the pants off everyone he meets. I am in love with him.

Purloined Poinsettia is the fourth book in the Mott’s Cold Case Mystery series, and I will for sure be going back and reading the first three. It can totally be read as a stand-alone, but I want to get to know Motts and her friends better.

Thank you to LibraryThing and Tangled Tree Publishing for this ARC. I received an advanced copy for free and am leaving a review voluntarily.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is good but Motts is one of the most unlikable main characters I've ever encountered. No, this isn't me being ableist or anti-neurodivergent. My daughter in law is autistic and is half Motts' age, but 50x more mature. Motts constantly whines about her mom not treating her like a grownup when she makes zero attempt to understand her in turn. She also acts more like a toddler than an adult. And talk about priorities ... Targeted by a serial killer, but won't stop whining because she doesn't like the food her mom is serving? If she's the adult she thinks she is, she could go grocery shopping herself instead of freeloading and complaining. She's also a real jerk to her dad, who treats her very kindly. One would hope that by the time a person turns 40, they'd realize that the world doesn't revolve around them and that the best way to ensure you're treated as you'd like to be treated isn't to whine and moan and throw a tantrum every time you don't get exactly what you want. Well, the series is over, so she never will learn, but it makes me a bit concerned about readers who find this behavior charming.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in this series. They need to be read in order. This book also has a cool little cross over with the boys from the London Podcast Mystery Series by Dahlia. Motts is spending the Christmas season in London with her parents. Her detective said it would be safer. Turns out not so much. They are getting closer to figuring out who has been killing the girls in her year at school. Motts is smack dab in the middle of it. As if someone trying to kill her isn’t enough there is her mother. She treats Motts like she is incapable of living on her own and knowing what she needs. Her dad doesn’t say anything to dissuade her mother but her other family members do step in. Motts gang isn’t going to make her go through this alone and come to London as well. Will they be able to figure out who is after Motts before its to late? I love this series so much. This book was a great conclusion to who was killing the girls in Motts year. Motts is such a fantastic character. Maybe just maybe she has found her special someone who understands what she needs to be her person. Motts gang of friends are amazing. Always there for her. Knowing when to push and when to pull back and just give her space. I hope there will be more Motts books in the future. Fantastic job Dahlia.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much!

[Erin Colson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love these books.

[Meghan Duff]

I will read any Motts story Dahlia Donovan writes

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

TLDR: I am guessing this is the final book? Not bad.

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