Roots of Murder

By Janis Harrison

Book Overview

A PERFECT ARRANGEMENT-FOR MURDER... Now that she's a widow, and given up recreational eating, Bretta Solomon has made The Flower Shop her whole life. But for the newly svelte Bretta, the flower business in River City, Missouri, is more than just wreathes, zinnias, or roses. It's about people, joy, grief, and love. And now, it is also about murder... Isaac Miller was a quiet Amish farmer found dead in his own field of carmine asters, baby's breath and statice. When Isaac's brother, suspicious of the authorities, asks Bretta to intervene in the investigation, she enters the world of the devout, isolated Amish, their not always-so-understanding neighbors, and a thorny patch of deals between flower growers and purveyors. Soon, Bretta knows that someone wanted something that Isaac had kept secret. But finding out what that is will mean weeding out some dangerous truths from some deadly lies-and cutting a killer down to size...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312975007
• ISBN13: 9780312975005
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.3" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Nevermind the Bad Critiques

Nevermind the bad critiques, folks. Janis Harrison's first Bretta Solomon mystery is a delight, even if you don't like gardening! I, personally, never understood how anyone could enjoy getting one's hands utterly filthy. But JH makes it sound like fun. An Amish man, Isaac Miller is found murdered in his fields of beautiful flowers, these flowers which Miller sold to local florists, including Bretta Solomon. When Isaac's brother Evan asks Bretta to investigate, find out why Isaac was murdered, Bretta is just a bit reluctant at first, but then dives into the investigation, taking you along for the ride. Having read "Lilies That Fester" first, I'm not exactly reading these in order, but I'm so excited about JH writing more; something in her books, her style of writing maybe, or maybe something in Bretta herself that makes me feel comfortable, like I've known her for a long time. Snuggle up with "Roots of Murder", a cozy in which you are sure to delight!

Believable characters and events make for great reading

Harrison has written a mystery full of believable characters and events which kept me reading until I finished the book in one day. Her description of "Missouri rural life" is right on, I could see each farm as Bretta Solomon drove up to it, be it clean as the Amish or with retired machinery covered with weeds. The plot is developed and played out magnificently with excellent detail. I truly enjoyed the authors use of typical rural Missouri language "peppered" throughout the novel to make it more believable. Definitely a must read. I look forward to future readings from this author!!!

If you like mysteries and gardening, you'll love this book!

I found "Roots of Murder" to be a very enjoyable read, with lots of interesting characters from formerly over-weight florists to Amish farmers. The story keeps moving along, with no long dry spells like some mysteries. This book reminded me of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone series.I am looking forward to Bretta's next adventure.

You can't put it down!!!!!

Once you start reading, you can not stop. The pace of the story line keeps you reading to find out what happens next. Bretta is a very believable, inquisitive, and impetuous lady. She has the ability to draw out the best or the worst in most of the people she encounters. There are moments of high tension and moments of tenderness, splashed with unexpected humor. At some times while reading this book, you will experience a whole range of emotions, including fear. A great summer read!!!!

Warm cozy

One year ago in River City, Missouri, Bretta Solomon's spouse, a police office, suffered a massive heart attack and died. Bretta turned to the florist business as a means of escaping the all-encompassing grief that still surrounds her. Bretta and most of the townsfolk are shocked when someone murders local Amish farmer Isaac Miller, who was a prime supplier of flowers to the florist. The police think Isaac's brother Evan killed his sibling to gain control of a new breed of chrysanthemum that has off the scale major revenue potential and that the farmer was cultivating. Desperate and grieving, Evan asks Bretta to help him. She begins to make inquires only to learn that the roots of this murder run deep. ROOTS OF MURDER is an interesting cozy that brings modern day Amish life to the forefront. The story line is crisp, as Janis Harrison lays out her who-done-it in a fine fashion that will thrill sub-genre fans. Bretta is a fascinating protagonist who is a such a complex mass of emotions that readers will feel an immediate bond with her. The audience will want Ms. Harrison to foster more novels like ROOTS OF MURDER starring a very admirable heroine.Harriet Klausner