When people think of flowers they envision vibrant blooms, the fragrant smell of fresh-cut lilies, and dainty blushing pink petals cascading from a towering vase. They don’t typically think of murder.
Neither did I.
When I decided to leave my dead-end job working for a flower wholesaler in the Midwest, I knew that my life was going to change. After years of soul-sucking work with lifeless flowers that had been trucked in from warehouses around the world, I was ready to get back to my roots. I had grown up in Portland, Oregon, affectionately known as the Rose City. My aunt Elin, was one of the city’s most revered floral artists. I had always thought that I would end up back in Portland after attending the prestigious Floral Institute. Instead I landed in frigid Minnesota in a loveless marriage and in a career that stifled my creativity. I had no to blame but myself. I could have left. I wanted to leave.
Fortunately, Chad’s lack of motivation—he’d been “writing” the next great American novel for over ten years—pushed me over the edge. It might also have had something to do with learning that his frequent late-night trips to the library had nothing to do with crafting amazing literary prose and everything to do with a leggy blond. Whatever the cause, it didn’t matter. I was on the next train to Portland and had no intention of looking backwards.
Elin greeted me with open arms and a bouquet from Blooma, her European-inspired flower shop. Blooma was located in Riverplace Village on the banks of the Willamette River. The village is home to a number of restaurants, boutiques, coffeehouses, and the famed RiverPlace Inn. Its cobblestone streets, cherry trees, and riverfront pathways make it a favorite spot for tourists and locals. Elin had brought her Swedish influence to her floral designs. She used natural materials like rustic grapevines and thick forest moss intertwined with variegated purple and white hydrangeas and ivory roses. Her creations were unique and reflected Portland’s abundant outdoor landscapes.
I just hoped that I hadn’t lost my touch. It had been a long time since I had designed a flower arrangement, let alone one as gorgeous as Elin’s.
“Britta, the world of flowers is open for anyone who wishes to see them. You don’t need to worry. Creativity is always within. You simply need to open yourself up to the blooms—let them guide you.”
I followed her advice. I spent the next few weeks immersing myself flowers. I had forgotten how wonderful it felt to have pine residue on my fingertips, and how my clothes were coated in fine layer of pollen. Elin encouraged me to think outside of a traditional vase, offering everything from terra cotta clay pots to Mason jars and barn wood as potential vessels for my creations. We worked side-by-side stripping thorns from roses and tying neat bundles of pansies with twine. I quickly got to know some of Blooma’s regulars as well as the other small business owners in Riverplace Village.
For the first time in a decade I was seeing the world in full-color. Everything in Portland was alive in a kaleidoscope of hues—the towering evergreen trees, peppermint roses snaking up vines, clusters of sun-ripened daffodils pushing up through the ground. This was where I was meant to be. Portland was my floral muse.
Except for one slight problem. Someone had begun leaving black, dead roses by Blooma’s front door. Elin brushed it off at first. But when I found a body stabbed with a pair of her gardening shears things took a turn for the worse. Everything wasn’t coming up roses. I had to figure out who the killer was, because the police had one suspect: Elin.
You can read more about Britta in Natural Thorn Killer, the first book in the NEW “Rose City” mystery series, coming March 27, 2018.
Cut down among the flowers . . .
Britta Johnston might be a late bloomer, but after leaving her deadbeat husband and dead-end job, she’s finally pursuing her artistic passion at her aunt Elin’s floral boutique, Blooma, in Portland, Oregon. It’s on the banks of the Willamette, in a quaint district of cobblestone paths and cherry trees. The wine bar featuring Pacific Northwest vintages is a tasty bonus, offering another kind of bouquet to enjoy. But things aren’t as peaceful as they look.
For one thing, someone’s been leaving dead roses around—and a sleazy real estate developer who wants the waterfront property has put a big-money offer on the table. Then, after a contentious meeting of local business owners, he’s found on the floor of the shop, with Elin’s garden shears planted in his chest. And before the police decide to pin the crime on her beloved aunt, Britta will have to find out who arranged this murder . . .
Purchase Link
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Giveaway: Tell us about your favorite flower and leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Natural Thorn Killer. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends March 27, 2018. Good luck everyone!
About the author
Kate Dyer-Seeley (also known as Ellie Alexander) is a Pacific Northwest native. Her love for the Pacific Northwest runs deep. Hence why all of her books (whether she’s writing as Ellie or Kate) are set here. From the Shakespearean hamlet of Ashland, Oregon to the Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington to the hipster mecca of Portland, Oregon and a variety of stunning outdoor locales, the Pacific Northwest is a backdrop for every book and almost becomes another character in each series.
All comments are welcomed.
I love sweet peas because they are pretty, smell delicious and make beautiful garden flowers. No arrangements are needed-just place a bunch of them in a vase and they look so pretty
You are a woman after my own heart. I love sweet peas!
Still a rose for me…I love the smell of the ones that grow in the garden. Heavenly..and besides red, or pink I love the yellow ones that have a pink or peach ring.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Yellow with the pink or peach rings… swoon!
We’re yearly members of the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. My favorite flower is a short lived one. The Bluebells. I try very hard each year to be there while they are in the height of bloom.
Can I come take a tour of the gardens with you? Pretty please!?!
I like violets, especially the white ones that my mother grew in her garden back in Vermont. I now live in Michigan and was able to bring some from there to grow here
Polly, you’ll appreciate the title for book #2 coming this fall, Violet Tendencies 😉
This time of year my favorite flower is the azalea. So beautiful in north Florida in springtime.
I was born in north Florida but raised in the Northwest!
Tulips are my favorite flower. Such bright colors and so special.
Tulips are the quintessential spring flower. Perfect for Easter!
Forget-me-nots are my favorite flower, they are so beautiful, innocent and cheerful looking.
Plus, there’s something about the name. Mary Marks used the title Forget Me Knot for her quilting mysteries. Brilliant!
Fabulous premise! Love flowers, best wishes on your new series, Kate!
Thanks, Meg! I couldn’t adore you more. If anyone here hasn’t read Meg’s books RUN, don’t walk to the nearest bookstore and grab yourself a copy. She’s one of my favorite mystery writers and happens to be one of the nicest people on the planet. XO!
My favorite flower has always been carnations…any Color. My daddy grew them on the side of our house in Southern California. Every Sunday, he would cut one, add a small sprig of baby’s breath and a piece of greenery such as the soft ferns he also grew. He would carefully put it together and then pin on me as a corsage to wear to church. This was back in the forties and fifties. Flowers were always growing in front and sides of house as well as a huge tree and ample lawn. The back yard was divided in two. The front part held my playhouse ( built by dad), an oak tree with my brothers tree house, the clothes lines, a fine piece of packed dirt to shoot marbles, and the dog house. The fenced off section, held several fruit trees, an avocado tree, a huge garden, and the chicken pen & coop as well as rabbit cages….and only 20 miles from downtown Los Angeles.
What a lovely memory! Thanks for sharing. I’ve never tried to grow carnations here in Oregon, but now you have me wanting a patch.
I’ve never met a flower I haven’t liked. I guess one of my favorite flowers has to be a daffodil since it is a sign of Spring and rebirth. Thanks for showcasing Kate Dyer-Seeley’s book.
My neighbor was just telling me about a daffodil festival nearby. I’m going to check it out!
For scent, gardenia. For looks, peony. And wildflowers? Winecup.
The aroma of gardenia is one of my favorites. That and jasmine!
I love stargazer lilies. I try to buy a few whenever I can as they’re so beautiful and last a long time.
Lilies are equally beautiful and fragrant. I recently learned that many profession florists with remove the pollen so it doesn’t stain.
Love hydrangeas! Looking forward to reading Natural Thorn Killer. It’s always exciting to start a new series. Thanks for the chance to win a print copy!
Yes! I’m a big hydrangea lover too. Especially variegated versions.
I like snowdrops because when they come up winter is almost over
I don’t know snowdrops. I’m going to have to look them up.
I love irises & have found them beautiful since I was a kid.
Yes! They are always one of the first flowers to push up through the ground each spring here in the PNW.
I love peonies, and considering that I do not have a green thumb, was amazed that I was able to grow some one year. I like most flowers that have lots of petals and are fluffy, and peonies fit the bill. I also like ranunculus, but have not had any luck growing them 😛
Peonies are so lush and delicate at the same time. Glad you had success with them!
I love Peonies but they just dont last long enough for me. Love their smell
One of my friends used only peonies for her wedding–the bouquets, arrangements, everything. It was gorgeous!
I love violets because they remind me of my mom who I lost almost 5 years ago. She was an amazing woman and violet grower! She could even split a violet plant when it was getting too big for its pot and have the two plants thrive afterward. I used to say that the violet plant I had survived only because it knew my mom would be coming for a visit! My mom was very allergic to basically any flower that has a scent, so violets were a perfect flower for her to grow.
Flowers for me are the ultimate reminder of the people who touch our lives. Here’s to lovely violet memories of your mom.
I like tulips.
Lilacs are my favorite, I fill my house with them once my trees bloom
I love chrysanthemums in the fall the most! I think it’s in my blood since I’m a November baby and I don’t recall being influenced by anyone on this in my years growing up. But there is definitely something that makes my heart happy about a big pot full of those golden beauties sitting on my porch in the fall Oregon rain.
This makes me love chrysanthemums even more now 🙂
Probably irises but love daffodils and lillies too.
Excellent choices!
I love tulips during this time of year. And white roses with red carnations. Oh what the heck, I love all flowers!😘
Me too! But, yes to tulips. We are heading to a tulip festival for spring break. I’l take pictures.
That is a hard one – peonies, lily of the valley and lilac. Cannot choose between them!
I say, don’t choose! Pick them all 🙂
my favorite flower has always been a daisy..any color. remember picking them at my grandmother house when little
Yes, I remember picking daisies as a kid, too.
My favorite flower has always been a yellow rose!!!
Lovely!
Yellow roses
You and Linda above!
I love them all, but I seem to have a special place in my heart for gardenias and plumeria. Then smell whisks me off to exotic places and I find myself thinking about warm sand between my toes and soft salt filled breezes filling my lungs.
And, you have first-hand expertise in the world of flowers, right?
Yes I do! I’ve never regretted the time I spent as a florist and often miss the heavy scent of the flowers when I walked into the shop. I’m looking forward to reading your book!
There is no smell better than a florist’s supply of flowers! To work with them daily must be wonderful-especially when given the freedom to design arrangements rather than to follow the book arrangements!!! Sounds like this is going to be a fun book.
My favorite flower is Burkwoodii Viburnum. They look like wax flowers and smell like Heaven!
So true! I didn’t want to leave. They had to kick me out of their shops every night.
Hyacinths are my favorite. The scent is heavenly. Congratulations on the new series!
Agreed on that!
Hydrangeas. I just love all the tiny flowers bunched together on these flowers. Plus the colors are so beautiful. They always remind me of spring, even if it is not spring yet. Flowers never fail to make someone smile or feel loved.
I’m always surprised by how long they last into fall, too.
I love peonies and tulips in the Spring and roses are an all time favorite.
I like your style!
I love both lilacs and peonies as they remind me of my grandmother.Thanks for the chance to win.
I love that flowers can remind us of the people we love and have loved.
Lilacs. Living in south Florida I really miss them.
Is it too hot in Florida for them?
Ever since I was a kid tulips have been my favorite flower. The two-tone red & yellow ones in particular. A couple of years ago I found out that my great-great grandmother had made a quilt using a two-tone red & yellow tulip pattern….guess the love for tulip’s is in the blood!
That’s the best!
My favorite flowers are Dahlias. My grandfather had them planted in our yard when I was a little girl. When I bought my house I planted a dahlia in my flower bed.
Passing on the tradition–beautiful!
I love so many flowers it is difficult to choose just one favorite. I have always loved lilies-of-the-valley because they are so small, delicate, and fragrant. Mom had a patch on the side of our house growing up and they always make me think of her. Since lilies-of-the-valley don’t last long they are a wonderful reminder to appreciate the present and not take anything for granted. Congratulations on the new book! it looks wonderful.
I love that sentiment. Yes, flowers are an excellent reminder to stay in the moment.
I love yellow roses!
Not participating but I had to say how delighted I am to have a great new series from a favorite author! The characters are as wonderful as the ones in her other series and I enjoyed the flower shop element. Naturally, the mystery plot was complex and stumped me! I can’t wait for my personal copy to arrive on my Kindle.
My favorite flower is a tulip.
My favorite flower is a Pink Carnation. They smell wonderful and last a long time.
Whether I win or not, I look forward to reading Natural Thorn Killer and your other books.
It’s hard for me to pick a favorite, but I always remember the most purple roses my grandma grew. Haven’t seen any like them since.
I love jonquil. They are such a sign of Soring and hope after long, dark winter!
My favorite flower has always been Lilacs. They only bloom for about a month but we used to have lilac bushes right by our kitchen door at our house upstate.
I like bluebonnets and iris. They are such pretty colors!
My favorite flower is Jasmine.
It’s a hard choice, but I love dahlias and just recently fell in love with snow drops!
My favorite flower is the Admiral Semmes Azalea because it’s gorgeous and it’s named after my ancestor!
My favorite is the dark red carnations because it represents deep love and affection
I love sunflowers…because when my kids were very little, we planted some in our backyard & they grew so huge…and the kids absolutely adored them & were so proud of them!
I love sunflowers. There so bright and cheerful.
**** WINNER ****
Natural Thorn Killer is Renee Collins
Congratulations!