Digging Up Daisy

A Mainely Murder Mystery #1

by Sherry Lynn

In a fresh new Maine-set cozy from author Sherry Lynn, Kinsley Clark must root out a killer before the killer roots out her.

At twenty-nine, Kinsley Clark is living the dream life she always envisioned for herself. She's the proud owner of SeaScapes, a thriving landscaping company in wealthy Harborside, set on the rugged coast of southern Maine. Kinsley's veins are filled with salty air, a myriad of colors, and the fragrance of fresh blooms. But one afternoon, while working at her aunt Tilly's bed-and-breakfast, the Salty Breeze Inn, Kinsley digs up more than she bargained for--a high-heeled shoe. The once sparkly shoe, now caked in mud, is linked to a case the police had appropriately dubbed the "Cinderella Murder."

Kinsley panics. Does this mean that her aunt and the inn are somehow connected to this murder? Will it scare away potential guests? Will it subject the inn to a rush of bad press? With Aunt Tilly's reputation, and possibly her safety, on the line, Kinsley digs deeper into the crime to find out what the shoe was doing on her aunt's property and who murdered Cinderella, whose real name is Daisy. As she investigates, more suspects rise to the surface, and eventually, Kinsley has to weed out a killer.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller, Summer

304 pages, Paperback

Published April 4, 2023

About the author

Sherry Lynn spent countless summers on the coast of Maine, knowing she’d one day return to write about the magical location from her youth. Curious by nature, sleuthing became the perfect fit for her, and she has written multiple cozy mystery series under several pseudonyms. (Check out the Handcrafted Mystery series under Holly Quinn and the Lakeside Library Series under Holly Danvers.) Currently, Sherry lives in the Midwest with her husband, but she dreams about one day retiring oceanside with a good book in her hand.

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story for springtime, filled with flowers, sweets and ocean breezes. Pleasant plot and good characters. Add to that a murder. Recommended.

My thanks to the author, Sherry Lynn, and the publisher, Berkley Prime Crime, for my electronic copy of this book. #Goodreads Giveaway

[Linda Langford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first line and the interesting first paragraph which usually are great signs that a book is going to be excellent. 5 Star Reading!

Kinsley Clark, the 29 year old protagonist owns Seascapes, a thriving landscaping design company in gorgeous Harborside, Maine. (New England is always a favorite setting of mine). Kinsley’s Aunt Tilly, owns and runs a seaside estate, the Salty Breeze Inn. One of the enticing things about this story are all the beautiful flowers and descriptions which are so vivid I could picture the colors in my mind. The ocean view is wonderful, too. An annual event, the Walk Inns, is coming up soon, and Seascapes does much of the local landscaping for Harborside businesses and homes. Re-planting a hydrangea bush at her Aunt’s, Kinsley is shocked to dig up a pink high-heeled shoe in the flower bed! Could it be connected to the death of a woman whose body was recently found just a few miles away? Who would bury it on Tilly’s property? With those basic questions, the Cinderella Killer hunt is on for amateur sleuths, Kinsley and her best friend, Becca, a realtor.

Filled with action, the two best friends escapades as they search for clues, humorous scenes, a rival landscaper who’s jealous and destructive, a nosy newscaster, lots of support from friend and local Detective Rachel Hayes, and a plethora of suspects to dig through; this cozy is a dazzling debut that quickly became a favorite. The mystery is edgy and engaging. Once the truth was unearthed and motive, means, and opportunity established, this reader was satisfied that no stones were left unturned. The author provides gardening tips and recipes for readers’ enjoyment.

I honestly reviewed an unedited digital arc provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing. All opinions are my own.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

In this new cozy series, we meet Kinsley Clark, owner of SeaScapes, a landscaping company in the coastal town of Harborside, Maine. Kinsley’s Aunt Tillie owns the popular Salty Breeze Inn, a B&B with gorgeous coastal views and gardens. Kinsley lives and runs her business out of the caretaker’s cottage behind the inn. Her many wealthy clients keep her busy but she always has time to make the grounds at the inn something special.

The community is getting ready for a big event, The Walk Inns, an annual parade of several local bed and breakfast establishments that host open houses to showcase their places to drum up new and returning business. It is also a major event for Kinsley because she does the landscaping for most of the inns on the tour.

While finishing up some planting for her aunt just a few days before the tour Kinsley makes an awful discovery. A fancy, pink, mud-caked, high-heeled shoe buried right next to the hydrangea she was trying to replace. A shoe she had just heard the police were looking for to solve what they are calling the “Cinderella Murder”. This could not only ruin The Walk Inns but put her and her aunt on the suspect list. There could also be a murderer staying at the inn putting everyone in danger. She does have an in at the police station but maybe she can solve the case herself. Although, her snooping could also make her the next thing buried in the garden.

I love the theme for this series and the coastal Maine setting. The author describes everything so well, the views, the cliff where she has her own little hiding place, the cliff walk between the properties, the wild variety of flowers and their smells along with the smells of the salty sea air, the inn, the caretaker cottage, the town including all the flower baskets and containers. I was able to visualize it all so clearly and almost smell all the scents allowing me to easily escape to Harborside, Maine.

I enjoyed meeting Kinsley and her Aunt Tillie. The first chapter gives us the lowdown on their lives and their close relationship. They both love what they are doing with their lives and their relationship is heartwarming. Kinsley’s best friend Becca, a real estate agent is also a well-developed character. The friendship rings true. Rachel Hayes was Kinsley’s brother Kyle’s girlfriend who decided to settle down in Harborside and join the police force while he re-enlisted in the service and took a post in Germany. We also meet several other residents of Harborside including a rival landscaper who is a huge thorn in Kinsley’s side. Some of the characters we get to know very well, others we just scratch the surface, and then there are a few where I felt we were definitely missing key information. I also felt that the dialogues were a little clunky and it messed with the flow of the story.

The mystery was very straightforward but I thought Kinsley jumped to conclusions way too quickly. She overheard or witnessed something and immediately that person was guilty and she built a whole theory around it and it was completely wrong. That being said while the mystery played out and led up to a very thrilling ending I wasn’t completely clear on everything. I had plucked the guilty party out pretty early but I was troubled by some things after all was revealed. I felt like I had missed something and went back and reread several parts but the description and details I was looking for just weren’t there. A subplot regarding another crime confused me a bit too.

Ms. Lynn has built a good foundation for the series to continue. The setting is divine and the landscaping theme has taken hold. I liked the core characters and the way Kinsley worked with Rachel. I am worried about Tillie and that the inn will get to be too much for her soon and hope the author has help planned for her in the future. Kinsley also has to slow her roll and refine her amateur sleuthing techniques. Other problems I noted with the plot may be due to first book-itis, where the author has to introduce all the characters and the setting while trying to give readers a strong mystery within a set number of pages, and sometimes things get cut or missed or don’t have the time to fully develop.

Digging Up Daisy has planted some good seeds and I have the utmost confidence that Ms. Lynn can nurture these characters into a blooming garden of mysteries that will delight cozy readers for a long time. Murder Under the Mistletoe hits shelves on November 7 and I am looking forward to visiting Salty Breeze Inn again to see what Kinsley and Tillie are up to.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read and enjoyed other books by this author under different pen names, and I fell in love with the cover so of course I had to read it! Kinsley is a landscape artist, something that I myself wish I were talented at but alas, I have yet to meet a plant I couldn’t kill. Kinsley, however, is a pro at transforming yards into beautiful masterpieces, though someone seems set on sabotaging her work around Harborside. Not gonna lie, this totally stressed me out for Kinsley – never mind the murder investigation, let’s catch the saboteur in the act lol

I adored her Aunt Tillie, and I hope I’m still as close to my nieces as she and Kinsley are when they’re grown up & I’m elderly. Aunts don’t get a lot of pagetime in fiction, so when I meet a good one in a book I perk up and take notice. Tillie is the kind of character you just want to reach in and hug, and then sit down with a beverage and a sweet treat for a nice long chat – if she has time in between tending to the B&B’s guests, of course. Her relationship with Kinsley is a lovely, positive, and affectionate one, and it’s always uplifting to have characters like that. Speaking of uplifting relationships, Kinsley’s friends Becca & Rachel are also delightful supporting players in this story and actually have fairly significant roles, too. I really enjoyed getting to know all the (hopefully) recurring characters in this series starter, and I’m particularly looking forward to seeing where the low-key romantic possibility vibes lead in the next books.

The murder mystery in Digging Up Daisy is an intriguing one with many different elements in play. Where was the victim actually murdered? WHY was the victim murdered? Why did her shoe end up buried in Kelsey’s yard? Where is the neighbor’s missing dog? Is the murderer one of the guests at the B&B or someone from town? Will they solve it – and the plant sabotaging crimes – in time to avoid bad press for SeaScapes and the Salty Breeze Inn? I figured out the whodunit pretty quickly, but that doesn’t mean it was a slam-dunk. I just happened to have an inkling and guessed correctly. There were a couple of other very plausible suspects, and it wouldn’t have surprised me in the least if one of them ended up being the killer(s) instead. Lots of layers to piece together, making it fun for armchair sleuths to play along at home while reading this book.

Bottom Line: Digging Up Daisy by Sherry Lynn kicks off what promises to be a fun new series! The coastal Maine, small town setting wraps around cozy mystery fans like a familiar & beloved quilt, though the residents of Harborside are considerably more well-to-do than most of Cabot Cove’s. The aunt in me loved Aunt Tilly, of course, but I also enjoyed Kinsley and her bestie Becca & their interactions. There were some things that could have been a bit tighter, to better advance the story & keep it from dragging a bit in the middle, but overall I enjoyed this first installment in the Mainely Murder Mystery series and look forward to more!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good start to a new series. I enjoyed the setting and the characters but didn't warm to them right away; they seem wooden and a little awkward but get better as the book goes on. The relationships between Kinsley and some of the characters was a little off and seemed forced, particularly with her love interest. The story, itself, was interesting but the plotting was off; it was easy to figure out who the killer was early on and the clues didn't really make a lot of sense. I will try the next in the series, hoping that the plotting improves.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This new series will have you craving "lobstah" rolls and the scenic view of Maine. Just watch out for the dead bodies.

I always enjoy starting a new series to see what the author will bring to the table in regard to characters, settings, mystery, and small towns. The mystery starts off with a bang, but you don't know why a shoe has been buried at the Salty Breeze Inn. Kinsley dives right into deciphering clues and trying to unroot the killer. The author does a great job of throwing red herrings into the mix. There is one character that really stands out as the potential murderer, but it just happens to be circumstantial. The true murderer was quite a surprise.

Since this is a new series, I don't have a connection to the characters yet. I'm on the fence regarding Kinsley. She seems nice enough, but she is a little rough around the edges in this first book. I'm sure her character will continue to grow and become more well-rounded. There are a variety of characters that play an integral part in the story, but they seem a bit awkward too. But this is the first book, so I suspect the author will continue to expand their character.

I did love all of the plant talk, and I could imagine them in my mind with bursts of color decorating the landscape. I admire those that can garden because I cannot.

We give this book 3 1/2 paws up and look forward to seeing how the characters and town expand.

[Angela (Kentuckybooklover) Brocato-Skaggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good

Ok, so how did I not know Sherry Lynn is also Holly Danvers? I love the Lakeside Library series.

I loved this book so much I finished in under 24 hours and I have also ordered book two. Should be here by next week!

Please tell me another book will be released in this series.

This book had everything I enjoy in a cozy mystery. A sleuth who is close to a relative, a best friend who is true, and no love triangle. Not really any romance but I think there is a hint of one blooming.

I found myself reading this every chance I got. I never zeroed in on the killer. Once it was revealed I was like “duh.”

Set in summery Maine with plenty of ocean views and lobster rolls.

[Dawn L · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think a lot of people will enjoy this as a light read. Personally, when the protagonist’s first thought when discovering a piece of evidence the police are actively looking for in a recent murder investigation is, “I can’t report this. It might hurt my aunt’s business.” I know that I’m going to spend way too much of the novel wanting to slap said protagonist.

[Melina · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I would really love to live in the setting of this series. The Maine Coast is the ideal location to me and the way the author described this setting made it even more appealing to me. Kinsley is a landscape artist in Harborside Maine. It is time for the Walk Inns tours for the town and Kinsley is busy getting all the businesses gardens in tip top shape. She is working at her Aunt Tilly’s Inn The Salty Breeze and she digs up a clue to the murder of a woman visiting Harborside. Kinsley investigates so her Aunt does not lose any business and to make sure her Aunt is safe and it is not a guest who is the murderer. I enjoyed the plot of this story and it flowed well, making it a quick read. Again, I enjoyed the setting very much. I thought Kinsley was a well-developed character and I enjoyed reading about her friendship with Becca and how loyal she is to her Aunt Tilly. There were many twists and turns with many suspects that kept me guessing. Kinsley thinks the murder is solved but is totally taken by surprise, but then again, she did have a gut feeling. I thought the ending was done very well, it kind of surprised me and came totally out of the blue. I will definitely be reading more in this series.

[Toni Wyatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I liked the story, and especially the location, I felt as if the writing didn’t flow as much I would have liked it to.

The main character, Kinsley Clark, was just okay. I didn’t really get a sense of her. I was confused about her age, especially in comparison with people like Pete, who it was commented on as being younger than her.

The red herrings were good, and there were plenty of suspects, but I wish there had been more interaction.

[D · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cozy mystery! I wish the plot was flushed out but this is meant to be a quick comfy read. I want to visit Maine so badly after reading this. I’ll continue with the series :)

[Cozybooklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun new cozy mystery

I happened to spot this book while looking for something to read.
The story was well written and the characters are likeable.
Aunt Tilly is a colorful character that I enjoyed getting to know.
I'm looking forward to the next book.

[Lenabean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the book. I felt like it was a nice easy read that I enjoyed. Plot twist! I liked the characters a lot too; tons of suspense!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series start

I loved this wonderful mystery set in Harborside Maine. Where the main character is Kinsley. She is a gardener who lives with her Aunt Tilly. While working on a garden her dog digs up a shoes. The shoe belongs to a young woman who was found murdered in a potato field. Kinsley and her best friend investigate. There are several suspects and motives. The resulting ending is perfect.

[dnsyl57 · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Digging Up Daisy" is book #1 in the "Mainely Murder Mystery" series by Sherry Lynn.

"In a fresh new Maine-set cozy from author Sherry Lynn, Kinsley Clark must root out a killer before the killer roots out her.

At twenty-nine, Kinsley Clark is living the dream life she always envisioned for herself. She's the proud owner of SeaScapes, a thriving landscaping company in wealthy Harborside, set on the rugged coast of southern Maine. Kinsley's veins are filled with salty air, a myriad of colors, and the fragrance of fresh blooms. But one afternoon, while working at her aunt Tilly's bed-and-breakfast, the Salty Breeze Inn, Kinsley digs up more than she bargained for--a high-heeled shoe. The once sparkly shoe, now caked in mud, is linked to a case the police had appropriately dubbed the "Cinderella Murder."

Kinsley panics. Does this mean that her aunt and the inn are somehow connected to this murder? Will it scare away potential guests? Will it subject the inn to a rush of bad press? With Aunt Tilly's reputation, and possibly her safety, on the line, Kinsley digs deeper into the crime to find out what the shoe was doing on her aunt's property and who murdered Cinderella, whose real name is Daisy. As she investigates, more suspects rise to the surface, and eventually, Kinsley has to weed out a killer."

My thoughts:
Though I grew up in a family with a long history of farming and having green thumbs, the ability to keep ANY plants alive somehow skipped over me - as did most of the knowledge about gardening. It just wasn't my thing.

That being said, it didn't stop me from pre-ordering this book as I'd enjoyed several other books by this author (under other pen names).

Kinsley is a strong, intelligent woman with good instincts. She readily admits to having watched too many crime shows over the years but that also gives her a bit of an up when it comes to looking at things from other perspectives. She also knows when to call on her BFF Becca or her brother's former girlfriend Rachel - who is a police detective. Rachel tries to discourage Kinsley from investigating on her own but also admits that she has come up with some good information.

The relationship between Kinsley and Becca is deep but also feels real. The support and banter come across as genuine. Aunt Tilly is a very capable Inn owner and from the sound of it, an amazing baker! (A few recipes are shared at the end of the book). Local restaurant owner, Pete comes across as complicated but also seems to have a soft spot for Kinsley - though the friendship is tested in this book.

The Cinderella murder turned out to be a real challenge to solve. Several potential suspects, but without knowing a motive it was difficult to fathom "why her"? Ms. Lynn did a commendable job of diverting attention and stirring the pot with information and tid bits that may or may not have been a part of the mystery.

The reveal of the killer and the immediate aftermath was dramatic. In the final pages, some questions around the murder and other suspects were answered. At least one character also revealed some personal information.

The Kindle edition of this book also included a sneak peak at the first few pages of the next book in this series - "Murder Under The Mistletoe" which is due to be released November 7 2023. I've already pre-ordered it!

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Digging Up Daisy by Sherry Lynn takes us to Harborside, Maine. I enjoyed the descriptions of the coastal town of Harborside, Aunt Tilly’s bed and breakfast and the grounds of the Salty Breeze Inn, and the lovely plantings created by Kinsley. The author brought the cliffs and sea to life. We get to know Kinsley, Kinsley’s bestie, and Aunt Tilly. Aunt Tilly is a sweet, hardworking woman. I can understand why Aunt Tilly and Kinsley enjoy living on that property. The views sound amazing. I could envision living in Kinsley’s cozy cottage with the ocean breeze and the sound of the ocean lulling me to sleep (it would be a peaceful place to read). The mystery started off in a unique way with Kinsley finding a recently murdered woman’s shoe under a plant while sprucing up the landscaping on the grounds of the Salty Breeze Inn. The last thing Kinsley wants is to bring unwanted publicity to her aunt’s bed and breakfast with the annual parade of homes, The Walk Inn fast approaching. Kinsley is also worried that her aunt will be a suspect in what has been dubbed the Cinderella Murder. Kinsley with help from her best friend, Becca begin investigating. I like that Kinsley shares information with Detective Rachel Hayes. There are several suspects in the crime. There are clues to help readers solve the whodunit. The guilty party is obvious early in the story. I would have preferred a more perplexing whodunit. I did find the reason for the crime spree to be lame. The characters were a touch awkward. The dialogue and behavior are off (we need less of people thinking everything is about them and taking things the wrong way). Digging Up Daisy had aspects I liked and others that could have used improvement. Digging Up Daisy is the first of A Mainely Murder Mysteries. This gives the author an opportunity to make changes. Digging Up Daisy is a floral fiesta with an unearthed shoe, sea breezes, plant problems, an amazing aunt, a planted threat, and a lurking killer.

[Kacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried giving cozy mysteries another shot, and I left this one thinking it was just okay. It wasn't anything amazing, but it didn't annoy me as much as other cozies. Mainly, I felt the book lacked what I always enjoy about a good mystery: clue-gathering, learning about suspects, showing the reader pieces of the puzzle so they can try solving it along with the main character. Stuff just kind of happened until the culprit all but blurted out their guilt in the last third of the book.

There was an issue right in the beginning where the main character finds a piece of evidence from the murder and decides not to report it. Girl, that is such a bad way to start. I can understand her not wanting to get her aunt in trouble, but it would look even worse if the evidence was discovered later and they found out you knew it was there. Later Kinsley is trying to get DNA evidence from someone, but she doesn't tell anyone except her best friend what she's doing or why. She is good friends with a detective! Why doesn't she use that connection more?

Speaking of a rival, that side-plot was so strange to me. I'm not sure it was ever resolved, or if it was, I completely missed it. The rival did get in trouble, but not because of any sabotage he was doing on Kinsley's properties. Nor do I remember the book mentioning a motivation for this sabotage. Why would he go through the trouble of killing plants to make Kinsley look bad? It just seemed so petty. On a related note, the "romance" thrown in at the last minute felt so underdeveloped, I'm not sure why the author bothered. The guy in question was just another minor character until suddenly Kinsley was having feelings for him.

I usually like saying something good about the book at the end. I did like that it didn't go the route of "incompetent police" as so many cozies do. It also made me want to eat lobster, so there's that. Not a bad book, but I won't be reading more from this series.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Landscaper Kinsley Clark lives in the caretaker's cottage on her Aunt Tilly's ocean view property, a bed-and-breakfast known as the Salty Breeze Inn. Her life is relatively tranquil, revolving around her landscape designs and time spent with friends and neighbors. In the lead up to the town's annual Walk Inns, its open house tour of local bed-and-breakfasts, Kinsley finds herself in unusual circumstances. She's been sprucing up plantings all over town in advance of the event only to find that her efforts are being sabotaged, leaving all of her beautiful flora and fauna wilting and dying. Further complicating issues, Kinsley discovers a lady's high heel buried beneath the shrubbery in Aunt Tilly's garden. Once it's established that the shoe belonged to Daisy Davis, the victim of a recent unsolved murder, Kinsley is concerned that this finding will bring negative publicity to the inn and suspicion to Aunt Tilly's doorstep. Kinsley feels obligated to protect her aunt's reputation and find the killer.

Kinsley enlists her best friend Becca and local detective Rachel Hayes to solve the mystery of Daisy's death. Who killed Daisy and why? Will Kinsley expose the truth before she herself becomes the next victim?

Digging Up Daisy, the first book in the Mainely Murder cozy mystery series, introduces readers to a lively cast of characters. The author hints at several motives and possible suspects, playing up mysterious connections between characters that keep readers engaged in unraveling the clues until the book's final pages. Protagonist Kinsley and her close circle of friends and family are relatable, and the ruggedly beautiful setting is the kind of inviting community that cozy readers will enjoy returning to time and time again.

Note: I received an advance reader copy of Digging Up Daisy in exchange for an honest review.

[Smitten · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars ⭐️

Kinsley Clark is the proud owner of SeaScapes, a landscape design company. She lives in the caretaker’s cottage behind her aunt’s estate, The Salty Breeze Inn, located in Harborside, Maine. Kinsley is doing some touch-ups to the plants around the inn to prepare for the upcoming parade of homes that will bring some welcome publicity to her aunt’s inn and her own landscaping business. Kinsley is shocked when she digs up the missing shoe from a case being referred to as the “Cinderella Murder,” Kinsley jumps into the investigation to protect her aunt and save the inn’s reputation.

This book is the first in a new cozy mystery series and has a cute premise with the landscaping business. The author does a great job of making the Maine setting come alive. I felt like I got to know Kinsley as a businesswoman and landscape designer and enjoyed the information about gardening that was part of the story and in the tips at the end of the book. I didn’t really connect with her as a person or an amateur sleuth, though. I was surprised at the choices she makes after discovering the shoe in the garden and had a hard time getting past that. I liked Kinsley’s aunt, but don’t feel I got to know her. My favorite character is the detective on the case, Rachel Hayes. It’s interesting that she is cooperative with Kinsley and is also Kinsley’s brother’s ex-girlfriend. I would have liked to have more scenes with Rachel investigating along with Kinsley.

The investigation has some surprises, and things are wrapped up nicely, even though the ending is a bit abrupt. There are some pacing issues in the story, but I think the series has a lot of potential. The setting and premise are great, so if more time was spent with Aunt Tilly and the Inn, in addition to Kinsley’s business, I think it would be a good balance and fun to read.

~ Christine

[Mark Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinsley Clark is hard at work with her landscaping company, SeaScapes, trying to get ready for the upcoming Walk Inns event at several bed and breakfasts in the area, including the one her aunt owns. As she’s digging in the dirt outside her aunt’s inn, she discovers a shoe buried in the dirt. She immediately recognizes the shoe as the one on the local news connected to the murder that took place the day before. How did it come to be in her aunt’s garden?

I really did like the premise of this mystery, so I went in hoping to enjoy the book. I did struggle through the first chapter, which gave us lots of backstory for Kinsley. Fortunately, it ended with the discovery of the shoe, and things picked up with several interesting suspects, clues, and red herrings. Unfortunately, when we reached the ending, not all the clues were accounted for. I think I can make some of them make sense, but I’m not sure they do. It’s a shame the plot turned out to be weak since I did like the characters and the setting. In the way of extras, we get some gardening tips and a couple of recipes. The characters and the setting are definitely a draw. If only the plot were better.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Lelia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book promises an intriguing mystery enveloped in a world of flowers and suspense. However, despite its potential, the book falls short in delivering a captivating narrative.
One of the major setbacks of the story is the excessive descriptions of flowers and garden work, which overshadow the supposed mystery at hand. While the author's attention to detail is commendable, the constant focus on floral imagery becomes tiresome, ultimately detracting from the overall plot.
Another disappointment lies in the pacing of the story. It's disheartening to find that almost 40% of the book unfolds without any significant development. Readers are left waiting for something substantial to happen, but are met with a sense of stagnation.
Furthermore, the portrayal of the heroine is a letdown. Instead of being a strong and intelligent character, she comes across as foolish and self-absorbed. Her incessant bragging about her company adds nothing to the story, and instead serves as a distraction from the central mystery.
Despite its shortcomings, the book does have a redeeming quality in its atmospheric descriptions, which successfully transport readers into the world of flowers. However, this alone is not enough to salvage the book from its lackluster execution.

[Big Otter Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for what this book 'could' have been. It is an interesting setup: Kinsley has a thriving landscaping business in a hoity-toity part of Maine where her aunt runs a bed and breakfast. When she digs up a shoe connected to a murder, Kinsley fears her aunt will be drawn into the investigation so she 'digs' into solving the crime. The scene setting and landscape descriptions in the book are terrific and really drew me into the story...which is where it went off the rails. This is the first book in the series so there are the usual problems with introducing the reader to everyone and setting up plot points. Kinsley is such an interesting character and the landscape/gardening twist is really good and something we don't see enough in cozies. But the murder was so convoluted as to who did it and why which made the ending just dumb. BUT, having said that, I can see where Sherry Lynn is going with this and I think she has a good foundation to build the series so I will read the next book when it comes out. I was given a copy-this is my opinion.

[Valerie Blankenship · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. If you love a good mystery like I do, I suggest giving it a read. Kinsley is a landscaper who is trying to get her Aunt Tilly's inn ready for a big event, but when she uncovers the shoe of a murder victim on the property she must find out who the killer is before her aunt's reputation gets ruined.
What I loved most about this is Sherry Lynn's beautiful way that she describes Harborside, Maine. I could easily envision the sites and sounds of the waves.
Kinsley's love for her aunt is so easily felt, and she goes above and beyond to find out who killed Daisy. With her best friend, Becca by her side she does some amazing sleuthing. Not only does she have a murder to solve, but she deals with a pesky competitor who will stop at nothing to steal all Kinsley's clients.
Grab this book, curl up somewhere comfortable, and get ready to enjoy solving a mystery while falling in love with the characters and the town of Harborside, Maine. I'm already excited for what comes next.

[Donna Schwartz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out a little slowly for me, but definitely picked up speed and pulled me in. I would give it a 4-star rating by the end.
The main character, Kinsley, drove me a little crazy at the beginning, as she really didn't know what to do with the evidence she found concerning a local murder, the first one in about 40 years. I did understand her intention to protect her Aunt Tilly, who had raised her since the death of her parents, but the evidence she found should have been left alone as you never mess with a crime scene. There was no telling whether it was one or not, although Kins thought it had been planted by someone who wanted to cause her aunt to lose the contest amoung the houses/inns.
The story picks up from there with her competition, another landscaper, trying to sabotage her work and steal her clients as evidence keeps falling into her lap. There were false leads which she takes to a female detective, which kept me guessing too.
If this is #1, I would definitely look into the next Mainely Murder Mystery.

[JoAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my review on NovelsAlive.com by clicking the link below. It is also posted in full.

https://novelsalive.com/2023/04/05/4-...


Digging Up Daisy is the first book in the Mainely Murder Mystery series by Sherry Lynn, and I’m looking forward to reading more.

Kinsley is a landscape gardener in a wealthy coastal town in Maine with a small town feel and a lot going on. There are small businesses, some sinister feelings, and a murder to solve, all leading up to a special weekend for the town. Kinsley is out to solve the murder and gives clues to her friend Rachel on the force as she and her friend Becca sift through the clues to discover whodunnit.

This cozy mystery was a little slow getting into since there was a lot of background information on the characters to be sorted through. When the book took off for me, several chapters in, I couldn’t turn the pages quickly enough. There are a lot of vivid descriptions of the homes, the small town, the beautiful gardens and flowers, the food, and the ocean. I could feel the warm breezes, smell the fragrant flowers, and breathe the salty ocean air, along with the lobstah!

There were a lot of twists and turns, along with many red herrings, which seemed to throw everyone off the scent. There were corny jokes and phrases all having to do with murder, gardening, and even Cinderella. You have to read the book to be in the know.

There is closure in solving the crime but not without some injuries along the way. Knowing this is the first book in the series, I look forward to meeting up with these characters again.

I love the cover, which brings up memories of several visits to southern Maine, and I can envision myself staying there. It invoked a peacefulness in me.

Digging Up Daisy is a delightful start to this cozy mystery series brimming with small town charm, a plethora of clues, and misdirects, leaving me wanting more.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character is Kinsley Clark, who is the owner of SeaScapes, a landscape design company. Unfortunately, while working at her aunt Tilly's bed and breakfast, The Salty Breeze Inn, she digs up a sparkly shoe. This shoe is linked to a recent murder case. Kinsley proceeds to investigate why the shoe ended up there in the fear that it may harm her aunt.

This story was difficult at first to get into. The main character and secondary characters were a bit stiff and awkward at first and so it took some time to warm up to them. The mystery was interesting and I did not guess the killer right away. I did love the fact that the author included gardening tips and recipes at the end of the book.

[Lauren Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I should not have finished the book. The writing appeared to have been done by AI, or someone with an eighth grade mastery of the English language. So much repetition of phrases and adjectives within a couple of sentences. The writing had a stilted feel, with lots of use of the passive voice. A bunch of typos and grammatical errors indicated really poor editing. Example: “She slammed her foot on the breaks in the middle of the tree-lined street, which caused her tires to screech, and most likely leave a streak on the road.” The use of floral similes was offputting, and the references to gardening seemed poorly researched. For a landscape designer, Kinsley used an awful lot of begonias and basic annuals.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting start to a new series. I loved the setting of the Maine coast, the author had a great ability to make the setting feel alive, the characters were good, the mystery a bit weak. I have to admit this book got off on the wrong foot for me when the main character Kinsley, did something with a piece of evidence, in a local murder, that was beyond belief and then when the police get involved they give her a bye, just too much to be believable. I definitely feel like this series has potential but there needs to be more than just wonderful scenary and likable characters, there needs to be a real mystery and realistic actions taken by those characters. I will give this series one more try.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinsley Clark - owns Seascapes a landscaping business, Harborside, Maine;
Aunt Tilly - owns Salty Breeze Inn, raised Kinsley & Kyle, her brother;
Kyle - in the service in Germany;
Becca - Kinsley's best friend, a realtor;
Edna - wealthy neighbor, Baxter - her dog;
Luke - Edna's son, can be a bit lazy;
Daisy - in town to sing at Class Reunion, (most staying at the Inn), is found MURDERED;
Pete - owns the Blue Lobstah, cute, Kinsley likes him;
Denny Davenport - Kinsley's competitor in the landscaping business;
Rachel - detective, Kyle and her have dated;
Roy - news reporter for TV station, wannabe news anchor, MURDERED Daisy (Cinderella), trying to create a headliner story for himself:
Denny found dog, running with the shoe and left his DNA inside, which helped Roy;