A Cornwall and Redfern Mystery, by Gloria Ferris, Dundurn Press, January 2014 (US)
*An ARC was provided by Dundurn Press and Edelweiss for an honest review.
CORPSE FLOWER is a refreshing entry into a stale, craft-saturated, cozy mystery field. It's protagonist, Bliss Moonbeam Cornwall, is a 32-year-old, divorced and motorcycle-riding resident of Lockport, Ontario. Once a well-dressed, well-connected socialite and married to swarmy attorney, Mike Bains (a.k.a., the Weasel), she now lives in a decrepit trailer next to a 25-year-old hooker, shops at a second hand store, and works a bunch of part-time jobs to make ends meet.
Seeking retribution from her ex is a huge motivating factor in Bliss's day-to-day existence. Bliss wants to save up enough money to force her ex to provide a better settlement than fifty acres of swamp land and the clothes on her back. Her jobs as yoga instructor, library assistant, cleaning lady and cemetery groundskeeper help her eat, pay rent, and fuel up her beloved motorcycle. But If she can sell the seven-acre Barrister estate to the mother and son who've recently seen the property and do a little paying job for her cousin, agoraphobic Dougal, then she might earn just enough money to fight the Weasel in court.
Her Saturday groundskeeping job at the Good Shepherd Cemetery brings her into contact with Julian Barnfeather, a long-time town employee of the cemetery. While Bliss works, he lounges in the cemetery shed reading questionable 'literature' and drinking to his heart's content. Bliss does her best to avoid him, since he can't let a moment in her presence go by without harassing her. So it's not until Sunday morning, when police chief, Neil Redfern, and his constable, Thea Vanderbloom, stop by her trailer to question her that she finds out about Julian's death the day before.
And it's not enough that Julian's killer is on the loose. The Weasel and his wife are doing all they can to force Bliss out of town. Bliss keeps stumbling upon marijuana plants wherever she goes. And there's definitely something weird and most likely illegal going on in her little trailer enclave of Hemp Hollow. At least she and Chief Redfern get along okay, sometimes.
I highly recommend you read CORPSE FLOWER. This Arthur Ellis Award-winning story is the first book in the Cornwall and Redfern Mystery Series and is a well-written tale chock full of action, humor, and quirky characters. Guaranteed to keep you invested in the life of the protagonist from start to satisfying end of the story, it's just the right kind of book to lighten your day or take to the beach. I totally enjoyed CORPSE FLOWER and look forward to the next book in Ms. Ferris's delightful new series.
PROTAGONIST: 32-year-old divorcee working several part-time jobs
ACTION: Three deaths, attempted deaths, a little gore
LOVE INTERESTS: Hunky, blond, chief of police
ROMANCE: Sitting on lap, short kiss
QUIRKINESS: Loads!! An agoraphobic cousin, a puffed-up mayor, a dead skunk
INTERESTING TIDBIT: Growth and care of the Titan Arum (biggest flowering plant)
FUN FACTOR: Snappy dialogue, funny situations, unusual characters
IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU MAY LIKE: The Charlie Davidson Mysteries by Darynda Jones (for mature readers), Witchcraft Mysteries by Juliet Blackwell, Vintage Magic Mysteries by Annette Blair, Mall Cop Mysteries by Laura DiSilverio, White House Gardener Mysteries by Dorothy St. James, Psychic Eye Mysteries by Victoria Laurie
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