Mulch

If you're up for a light read this summer, check out Ann Ripley's Mulch, the first book in her Gardening Mysteries series. She introduced us to Louise Eldridge and her family. They moved to a ritzy Washington D.C. neighborhood from Bethesda, Maryland. They made waves and new friends, while Bill worked for the government, and Louise was an organic gardener and freelance writer. When they discovered body parts in mulched garden bags, her family was under suspicion. But one of their neighbors had in it for them to keep it quiet. Louise's daughter Janie had a crush on a local neighbor's kid. This is a quick and easy read with a delightful gardening mystery.


This was a fun and enjoyable cozy series to read for light reading. I cared about Louise and her family, when they moved from Bethesda to Washington D.C., for a big relocation for Bill's  job. I loved the D.C. area location and her neighborhood settings for a charming cozy. I also enjoyed the gardening tips that was stored inside this cozy mystery. This would make you hold your breath for every chapter and page turn. Great drama, good non-stop action with plenty of intrigue and suspense with a hint of mystery for a gripping debut.

Will you discover mulch for your gardening pleasure today? If so, give it a go!

Summer Garden Murder

In Ann Ripley's Summer Garden Murder, the 8th installment in the Gardening Cozy Mystery series, Louise Eldridge's summer  party was interrupted, when Peter Hoffman came back to terrorize her neighborhood and her in particular. He was known as the "mulch" killer, a few years ago, and had returned from four years in mental rehab. After he frightened Louise, she decided to take her family on vacation. When she returned, Hoffman wound up missing. As Louise did her gardening, he ended up dead. And all evidence pointed to her, putting her family and her career in danger. Things go from bad to worse, days later, when someone else wound up missing and dead. And with the help from family and her neighbors, they helped her discover who's the cold-blooded killer  that who had framed her. It's a fight to the end.

This was another nice  captivating garden mystery from Ann Ripley. I continued to care for Louise and her family, when they received another scare from their past... a most frightening one. I didn't care for much for Peter, then and now. I still loved the gardening tips and the Washington D.C. location as well. This would make you grit your teeth and let out a big hollowed breath in the end. Great drama, compelling non-stop action with suspense, intrigue and mystery right to the end.

Come on and give this a try, before you plant your summer garden today!