Mums and Mayhem: A Magic Garden Mystery

Fiona Knox has made a home for herself in Scotland, running her flower shop, dealing with her sister being head over heels in a relationship, dating the handsome Chief Inspector, and having the responsibility of her role as the Keeper of the Garden. As if she wasn’t busy enough, she’s volunteered to help with a concert with fiddle player Barley McFee as the star, and has to decide which to do first with her visiting parents: tell them her sister’s plans to stay in Scotland with her boyfriend, or confront them about the secret she recently learned. When Barley is found dead, Fiona’s dad is the prime suspect and Fiona couldn’t have predicted all the secrets that would come tumbling out of her parents’ past. The garden is placed in jeopardy after someone breaks in and cuts the rose. Now, Fiona is running out of time to clear her father’s name, catch a killer, and save her garden and the magic it contains.

Amanda Flower proves once again that it only takes a little to bring a lot of magic to life. The magical touches are realistic and a natural part of the world with the true magic coming out through the belief, faith, and kinship of the characters. The secrets of Fiona’s family is at the root of the mystery, with various layers unfolding the more Fiona digs into what her parents are keeping from her, searches for a killer, and struggles to get to the root of why her garden is dying. The previous book found Fiona discovering that her godfather was her biological father, and this story picks up with her searches for how to confront her parents about it. All the secrets soon come to light when she discovers her father has a connection to Barley McFee and he’s the prime suspect in the murder. The mysteries surrounding the garden have only just begun as the loss of the rose brings upon its death and pushes Fiona to question more about the garden’s history. The role of magic has always been a secret, which has Fiona still learning about how to be the Keeper and how magic fits into her life. Mums and Mayhem is another dazzling mystery in the series with a gorgeous Scotland setting, magical elements, family drama, shocking secrets, and the bond of community.