Throw in the Trowel by Kate Collins is the 15th book in the “Flower Shop” mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian, February 2014

I’m used to buried bulbs, not buried bodies…

The couple that sleuths together.

Flower Shop owner Abby Knight has just returned from a romantic honeymoon with the man of her dreams. There’s no reason for the bloom to be off the rose just because she and Marco are returning to normal life. But when Marco discovers a skeleton buried in the basement of his bar, it is a bit of a mood killer.

When the body is identified as a carpenter who went missing back in the 1970s, Abby and Marco decide to cultivate the clues to solve the cold case. What could be more romantic? But the deeper they dig, the more desperate the murderer grows. And if Marco and Abby don’t unearth the killer’s identity, they may not live to see their first anniversary.

Love this book and series. Abby is married and immediately her gut reaction to bones found in Marco’s bar basement is to put a name to it and yes, before you know it, Abby and Marco are involved in another investigation where the past comes back to haunt certain residents of New Chapel. Through all their digging, the murder victim will be identified and the murderer will be awaiting jail time.

This was great! The comfortable tone and writing style made the story flow with an ease that had me quickly turning the pages, as I had to know what happens next. The mystery was well developed and I loved that the suspect list was short but it kept you guessing as to the identity of the killer, and the revelation was surprising, but not really. The author did a great job of keeping me in suspense with a few tense moments in the story that had me catching me breath. Boasting a lovable cast, engaging conversations and that small town feel, as always I had a great time in New Chapel and I look forward to their next exciting adventures in this delightfully charming series.