While attending a funeral in Badin, mourners receive word of a drowning at a nearby dam. The victim was diving alone, a careless mistake the experienced diver should not have made. When aconite is found in his system, his death is considered suspicious. Peggy returns home to Charlotte to find herself investigating yet another drowning as the newly contracted forensic biologist with the police department. The second victim, found floating in her swimming pool, is considered an open-and-shut case of accidental drowning, until Peggy discovers similarities between this case and the drowning in Badin. Things turn personal when her friend is arrested and charged with murder.

In addition to trying to prove her friend innocent, Peggy has to deal with competition against her business, The Potting Shed, and the intriguing Nightflyer, who wants to meet in person. Added to these stressors, Peggy's boyfriend Steve wants to take their relationship to the next step of cohabitation. As Peggy struggles to put all the pieces together and deal with the day-to-day adventure that's her life, the evidence is taking her in some unexpected directions.

PERFECT POISON by Jim and Joyce Lavene is a fabulous whodunit that will keep readers guessing and happily turning pages to the unexpected end. Peggy Lee is a most entertaining sleuth and her Southern gentility is like a breath of fresh air. The Lavenes have a strong grasp of Southern flavor and share it beautifully with their readers. I loved the story, I loved the sense of the South, and I was pleasantly surprised with the resolution of this creatively crafted story. This one's a keeper!

Book Summary

Deadly duckweed!

When drowned bodies start surfacing with an unusual plant caught in one of the victims’ hair, forensic botanist and detective’s widow Peggy Lee is on the case.