Lawn Order

Margaret & Bitsy Mystery Series #1

by Molly MacRae

Margaret Welch is in her idea of heaven. She has what many people only dream of -- a successful bookstore in a charming old house. Even better, she and her bookstore are located in Stonewall, a picturesque town nestled in the foothills of Tennessee's Blue Ridge Mountains. Unfortunately, Margaret also has a sister -- Bitsy.

The morning Bitsy flings a dead pigeon on her sales counter, Margaret decides to redefine her mission in life. "Never assume anything as far as Bitsy is concerned' sound like sane words to her, and that's good, because Margaret's going to need them.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery

320 pages, Hardcover

First published December 15, 2010

About the author

Molly MacRae spent twenty years in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Upper East Tennessee, where she managed The Book Place, an independent bookstore; may it rest in peace.

Before the lure of books hooked her, she was curator of the history museum in Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town.

MacRae lives with her family in Champaign, Illinois, where she connects children with books at the public library.

Reviews

[Ritter Ames · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute Winner!

I've enjoyed the author's other series, but discovered these characters when I read the collection of short stories, My Troubles. Didn't want to stop reading about Margaret, Bitsy, and the town of Stonewall, Tennessee, so I dove right into Lawn Order next. Funny, interesting, satisfying. Loved it. Getting things from Margaret's first person point of view is a treat, and I happily wandered with her through Stonewall and as she made her suspect & questions lists, while she worked to solve all of the crimes. The style reminded me of the stories Bailey Waters used to tell on NPR--but with the added bonus of a mystery in East Tennessee to solve at the same time. Absolute winner, and I highly recommend Lawn Order and Molly MacRae.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margaret runs a bookstore in little Stonewall, TN with the interference of her bossy sister Bitsy. As a series of pranks, some amusing, some vicious, plague the town, middle-aged Margaret finds herself attracted to the new man in town. Then a local landmark burns, and a body is found in the ruins. Margaret accumulates questions faster than she can find answers, despite Bitsy's commands to stop. The characters and background are entirely delightful, and should have a four and a half, if I could give half stars.

[Kristina Hoerner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and can't believe I know the author. I enjoyed her first book, Wilder Rumors, and liked this one too. Fun characters, great pacing and I could not figure out the mystery until the end.

[Gypsylcm · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled to keep reading this but managed to finish it :)

[Amy Coupe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun vacation read; nothing earth shattering

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book before reading "My Troubles".


Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...

1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.

2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.

3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.

4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.

5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Independent bookstore owner becomes reluctant detective in Molly MacRae’s fun cozy mystery “Lawn Order.”

I review it in the January 5 edition of the Boston Globe.

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/...

--Joe

[Dawn]

Wonderful book enjoyed it immensely ! My 1st by this author.

[Cindy Dyson Eitelman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm unable to lay a finger on exactly why I liked this book. Up until the end I was completely clueless about who the perpetrator was, and that's not necessarily a good thing. In the ideal mystery, the clues are all right in your face and when they finally come together--bang! "Of course!" you say. "I should have known that."

Maybe I wasn't trying hard enough. I'm not sure and will have to check other reviews later to see if the problem was me or simply a lack of clue-age. Still, the townspeople were fun, funny and very well-characterized for a simple cozy mystery. I'm going to try a second book in the series and let you know.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time warming up to the main character until about 2/3 of the way through the book. She wasn't particularly likable, just sort of removed or above the story at times. I only finished because I wanted to know how all the disjointed stuff came together. I am good at predicting the endings of mysteries, but not this one. I'm not sure there were any clues at all, just felt like it came out of left field. I won't be reading anymore in the series.

[Marseydoats · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did really like the photo of the author and her cat.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

A library find.
January 2025.
Interesting.
Suspenseful.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best!!

I love Molly's books and this is at the top of the list. Margaret is an excellent character. I love the humor and how she thinks.

[Oswego Public Library District]

From an Illinois author comes a cozy, gentle read with a dash of romance. Set in the Appalachian region of Tennessee, a woman leaves bustling Chicago to open a book store in a small town filled with quirky characters. Our main character turns amateur detective as a continuing series of crimes becomes more and more serious. With witty prose, the author keeps the reader guessing until the end. Could it be the caterer, the undertaker, the elderly lady with shifty eyes, or the handsome visitor to Stonewall, TN?

Click here to place a hold on Lawn Order by Molly MacRae.

Another cozy mystery series featuring amateur sleuths and a lot of charm and humor is written by Carolyn G. Hart. Try Dead by Midnight.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Stonewall, Tennessee is experiencing a series of vandalism pranks. None are too serious until a fire burns down the bank building and a body is discovered in one of the upper apartments. Margaret owns the local bookshop and she begins to look into the murder, the disappearance of one of her salesclerks, and the vandalism. She is also beginning to fall in love with one of the main suspects. She has a sister that drives her crazy and the local characters all have different stories. It is a fun book with a lot of humor and pathos. This book is the start of a good series.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love any book with a library or bookstore in it. Margaret Welch owns and manages a bookstore in Stonewall, TN. Stonewall is dealing with a spate of pranks, some funny and some vicious, when someone ups the ante by committing murder and burning a building to cover up the crime. Margaret doesn't think she is nosing into the crime when she keeps notes and questions on a paper napkin, but she becomes a focus for more attacks. Bitsy, her sister, and others think the murderer is the new man in town who happens to be dating Margaret.

Mystery and humor mixed together.

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cozy, gentle read with a dash of romance from an Illinois author. Set in the Appalachian region of Tennessee, a woman leaves bustling Chicago to open a book store in a small town filled with quirky characters. Our main character turns amateur detective as a continuing series of crimes becomes more and more serious. With witty prose, the author keeps the reader guessing until the end. Could it be the caterer, the undertaker, the old lady with shifty eyes, or the handsome visitor to Stonewall, TN?

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book off Goodreads and put it down as my bathroom read so it was read a little at a time and took awhile to get it done. I enjoyed the story and the charactors so much I have made Wilder Rumors my next bathroom read! Imagine a small town dealing with murder and arson and destroying property and dead birds! The bookstore owner gets her nose into things trying to solve the mysteries. Delightful charactors and story.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a nice read for the summer. I like the main character since she loves books and works in a bookstore. However, she certainly lets her sister push her around. I wonder if there will be more Margaret and Bitsy mysteries on the horizon!

[Bobbie N · Rating 3 out of 5]

SUMMARY: A dead pigeon flung on the counter of her bookstore starts off thie first of a new cozy mystery series featuring Stonewall, Tennessee bookseller Margaret Welch and her sister Bitsy. COMMENTS: Light, funny, with a cast of characters who are - well, characters.

[Michele bookloverforever · Rating 3 out of 5]

very amusing.

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hilarious! Margaret's dry comments to and about everyone had me laughing out loud, and some of the dialogue just cracked me up!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful!

[Glenna Knights · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light, summer reading - humorous

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book, entertaining and a great quick summer mystery