In GARDEN OF DEATH, Chrystle Fiedler's third Natural Remedies mystery, main character and small business owner Willow McQuade is under fire from disgruntled local business people who are sure she somehow cheated to win a coveted plot of land. Willow is turning the land into an educational apothecary garden in honor of her late aunt, but when dead bodies (and pirate treasure?) start turning up she finds herself embroiled in mystery again, this time to defend her boyfriend who is suspect number one in the eyes of the police.

Although not a standalone, GARDEN OF DEATH is well able to be enjoyed without reading the prior books in the series. The plot is well-constructed and kept me guessing with the mysteries just complex enough to engage my mind while still remaining a relaxing read. There were a few moments of intensity well-spaced throughout the more mundane action and a wonderfully strong dose of excitement at the end. Like most cozy mysteries, the characters who people the pages surrounding the main heroes are part and parcel of the setting, adding texture and a touch of complexity to the whole. Chrystle Fiedler has the skill to drop just enough hints throughout to make the identification of the villain uncertain yet leave readers with an 'Aha!' when all is revealed.

My favorite part though? Surprisingly, I am particularly fond of the bits of herbal knowledge heading each chapter. Not only do you have an entertaining mystery to add to your shelves, the well written concise descriptions of herbs both common and uncommon can really spark a new interest in herbalism for those who might start out only peripherally intrigued.

Chrystle Fiedler backs the herbal information used in her mysteries with solid knowledge, not surprising considering she is a respected author and co-author of many nutritional and naturopathic guides, particularly The Complete Idiot's Guide to Natural Remedies as well as numerous articles in several publications.

Book Summary

When a local doctor is found dead in Willow McQuade’s medicinal garden, she must find the killer to clear her boyfriend’s name in this third clever book in the Natural Remedies Mystery series.

Dr. Willow McQuade, owner of Nature’s Way Market & Café, has put the finishing touches on a new medicinal plant garden for Greenport’s annual Maritime Festival and is ready for the festivities to begin. But it’s not all flowers and sunshine at the grand opening, when Willow discovers the body of another contestant, Dr. Charles White, face down in her garden.

Willow’s hunky boyfriend, Jackson Spade, immediately becomes a suspect due to a recent fight with Dr. White. Willow knows she has to remedy the situation, but it won’t be easy with the other applicants’ vendettas and vandals wrecking her garden at every turn. And when she finds buried treasure in her garden that just might belong to the legendary Captain Kidd, the stakes become even higher. Was Dr. White searching for that treasure? Did someone kill him to get to it first? With the help of Jackson and her eccentric ex-boyfriend, Willow follows the clues to uncover the truth that someone wants buried…

But can she dig up enough evidence before she becomes the killer’s next victim?