The Azalea Assault by Alyse Carlson

The Azalea Assault (A Garden Society Mystery, #1)

by Alyse Carlson

 Roanoke, Virginia, is home to some of the country’s most exquisite gardens, and it’s Camellia Harris’ job to promote them. But when an out of towner turns up dead, she discovers there’s no good way to spin murder…

Camellia Harris has achieved a coup in the PR world. The premier national magazine for garden lovers has agreed to feature one of Roanoke’s most spectacular gardens in its pages—and world-famous photographer Jean-Jacques Georges is going to shoot the spread. But at the welcoming party, Jean-Jacques insults several guests, complains that flowers are boring, and gooses almost every woman in the room. When a body is found the next morning, sprawled across the azaleas, it’s almost no surprise that the victim is Jean-Jacques.

With Cam’s brother-in-law blamed for the crime—and her reporter boyfriend, Rob, wanting the scoop—Cam decides to use her skills to solve the murder. Luckily a PR pro like Cam knows how to be nosy…

Reviewed by MurderByDeath on

3 of 5 stars

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I don't really know what to say about this book. I feel sort of like it should be 2.5 stars instead of three. The characters were really good - I loved the wit and repartee between the four 'main' characters: Cam, Rob, Annie and Jake. I especially like Annie. I enjoyed the gardening theme and didn't feel like it was too much over the top. But the story itself felt like it rambled and I often felt like I was reading a whole lot of nothing. I suspect it might be suffering for being a first book, because there is an awful lot for me to like in this book - the plot just didn't do anything for me and it felt like it could have been more tightly edited.

I'll definitely try the second book - there are just too many likeable elements in it to pass up trying again.

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  • Started reading
  • 22 August, 2012: Finished reading
  • 22 August, 2012: Reviewed