Flowerbed of State is being released on May 3. And sometimes, we’re just left with the tears. I’d argue, however, that the best cozies aren’t like that the ones I find most compelling strive to portray a more human reaction to danger and death. I recently heard someone complain that cozy mysteries take too cavalier an attitude toward death. “He squeezed off just one shot.” My voice cracked. “I was conscious long enough to watch him turn the gun on Mom.” “Her voice was cold as she told the man to stop stalling and go ahead and get it over with. “I’m so sorry, pumpkin.” I pushed her apology deep into the recesses of my memories where I wouldn’t have to hear them ever again. The words my mom had said next echoed like an unholy wind in my ears. Witness this haunting scene in which Casey relates to a friend a tragedy from her childhood: James also knows when to let the gravitas of a moment stand. Why not? They make great houseplants, you know.”īut St. Bits of bright yellow pineapple flesh clung to it. I raised the stalk of spiky leaves in the air as if it were a trophy.

The knife’s sharp blade made a satisfying thunk as it cut through the top of the pineapple, freeing its bright green top. When I get nervous, I garden.”ĭesperate, I grabbed the closest thing at hand, a pineapple Alyssa had purchased a few days earlier and had left sitting out next to the bread box. “Um…um…” What did I think I was going to do with the knife? This was Lorenzo, for heaven’s sake. “What are you doing?” Lorenzo asked as I whirled toward him, the knife pointed menacingly toward his chest. A knife.Ī satisfyingly large butcher’s knife. In a panic I jumped up and grabbed the first thing that came to mind.

Not unless the killer and Lorenzo were one and the. Why would Lorenzo be wearing the killer’s shoes? Sometimes she does this with humor, as is the case in the following scene, which finds protagonist Casey Calhoun alone in an apartment with a potential suspect: James does so many things right in this book, but the thing I admire most is the way she uses dramatic moments to not only heighten tension and forward plot, but inform character, as well. James’ White House Gardener Mystery Series, and it quite simply blew me away. James’ Flowerbed of State, the first in St. A new release that caught my attention this month is Dorothy St.

Flowerbed of State by Dorothy St. James