A Root Awakening

February 1, 2015

As newlywed flower shop owner Abby Knight and Marco, her bar owner/PI husband, begin looking for a house, they soon discover that they differ on how much work they are willing to put into such a place. In fact, Abby is even less inclined to buy a fixer-upper after they watch a construction worker's fatal fall at a run-down Victorian mansion. As other witnesses indicate that the fall might not have been an accident, the victim's wife hires Marco to investigate. Meanwhile, Abby decides to conduct her own inquiry into the family currently living in the house because she feels there is something not quite right with the children. In the midst of trying to solve this mystery without Marco finding out, Abby must also deal with her overbearing, pregnant cousin. VERDICT Collins's 16th series entry (after Throw in the Trowel) is a layered mystery that blends easy, lighthearted cozy elements with serious themes that revolve around children. Abby and Marco prove that married partners can work together to get the job done (even if they don't always know they are doing so).

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