Flower Shop Mysteries in Order | Series by Kate Collins
I recently decided to try this series by Kate Collins, and, of course, have been reading the Flower Shop Mysteries in order. It’s been a true cozy addition to my reading list. After experiencing a bit of a lull in my literary pursuits, these books reinvigorated my interest, and I have found them to be humorous stories.
Flower Shop Mystery Series by Kate Collins
The protagonist, Abby Knight, is a former lawyer who has transitioned into the world of floristry, only to find herself repeatedly entangled in murder investigations. It’s surprising how perilous the floral industry can be, but that’s part of the series’ charm. Collins demonstrates considerable skill in intertwining floral themes throughout the mysteries, almost inadvertently allowing readers to absorb horticultural knowledge.
I must admit that the plots can occasionally be somewhat predictable. It’s often apparent that Abby will find herself in a predicament, necessitating Marco’s assistance. However, I find that this predictability doesn’t detract from my enjoyment. These books serve as a form of literary comfort food.
I recommend this series for those seeking a light-hearted read with romance elements and a touch of botanical education. It’s ideal for moments when one desires to unwind with a cup of tea and escape into a cozy fictional world.
Of note, fans of cozy mystery movies may wonder if the hit movie series on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries is related to this series, and YES, the movie series, starring actress Brooke Shields, is based on Kate Collins’s book series!
If you would like to read the Flower Shop Mysteries in order, then I highly recommend grabbing the printable reading list!
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Author, Kate Collins
Kate Collins is the New York Times bestselling author of the Flower Shop Mystery series and is a former elementary school teacher with a master’s in education from Purdue University. She transitioned to writing after her first child’s birth. Initially publishing children’s stories and romance novels, Kate found her niche in mysteries. Her Flower Shop series has been highly successful, with over 20 books.
She recently launched the Goddess of Greene St. Mysteries, a series set in Michigan. featuring a “crazy big Greek family.” Kate draws on her love of gardening in the settings and descriptions of the cozy mysteries she writes. She lives in Key West, Florida (fun!!) and enjoys gardening, yoga, travel, and spending time with family when not writing.
flower shop mysteries in order
As I usually do, I recommend reading the Flower Shop Mysteries in order to catch the changes in relationships and other life happenings with the main characters.
The setting of this series is the small midwestern fictional town of New Chapel, Indiana. This floral-focused series quickly became a favorite for me, anchored on my own love of flowers and exuding coziness and familiarity. It’s portrayed so vividly that one can almost imagine strolling down the street and dropping into Abby’s flower shop for a friendly conversation. The town is populated with eccentric characters that contribute to its homey atmosphere.
Abby is a refreshingly imperfect heroine. She is a law school dropout who has a quick temper, stubborn tendencies, and a penchant for involving herself in matters best left alone. However, these traits make her more relatable and authentic.
Her romantic involvement with Marco, the attractive bar owner, and former Army Ranger adds an engaging layer to the narrative. The romantic angle of this series receives high marks from me, as there is only one love interest! I just can’t read the series that has the main character constantly involved with more than one ongoing love interest. Seriously, make up your mind already! 😂
The Jillian Knight Osbourne Fashionista Diaries (A Flower Shop Mystery Short Story)
Published: August 26, 2020
FantasticFiction.com calls this novella the prequel to the Flower Shop Mystery series. I can’t confirm this on the author’s site or the Amazon series or book page, nor have I read this book in the series. If you’ve read it and can confirm that it is or is not the prequel, please leave a comment!
This book in the series has a fun twist—we’re seeing things through Jillian’s diary instead of Abby’s perspective. Jillian is Abby’s polar opposite cousin, all about fashion and fitness. She’s writing a self-help guide but ends up in a mini-mystery herself. Abby tries to help from afar.
From the Publisher
Abby Knight Salvare is the friendly local florist, the feisty amateur sleuth, and New Chapel, Indiana’s very own hometown hero.
Her cousin, Jillian Osbourne, is the complete opposite.
Beautiful, bubbly, and beaming with unwarranted pride, Jillian takes you on a weeklong journey, sharing her advice on fashion, fitness, and overall health.
But remember, it’s easier to advise than be advised, and in Jillian’s case this might be true when she gets herself wrapped up in a mini mystery.
Will Abby be able to help from behind the pages of Jillian’s diary?I guess we’ll find out…
Mum’s the Word (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 1)
Published: November 2, 2004
In this official first book of the series, Abby Knight, the main character, is a florist in her hometown struggling with a new competitor undercutting her prices. Enter someone in a black SUV who smashes into her Corvette and takes off, and Abby decides to find the culprit. Things get dangerous very quickly. It’s a fun, suspenseful read that kept me guessing, and I was hooked enough to continue with the series.
From the Publisher
Abby Knight is the proud owner of her hometown flower shop, but a new low-cost competitor is killing her profits-and a black SUV just rammed her vintage Corvette in a hit-and-run. She’s determined to track down the driver, but when the trail turns deadly, the next flower arrangement might be for her own funeral.
Slay It With Flowers (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 2)
Published: March 1, 2005
In this second book, Abby’s cousin Jillian is getting married again and wants Abby as a bridesmaid and florist. But wouldn’t you know it, the wedding turns into a mystery when a groomsman vanishes and someone in the wedding party turns up dead! Abby’s on the case with her quirky crew, trying to solve the mystery before the big day.
From the Publisher
Me, Abby Knight, an entrepreneur! Who would have guessed when I flunked out of law school a year ago that I’d be standing here today in front of Bloomers, my very own flower shop? Even though I may be penniless, I am soundly devoted to my new profession…whether it means arranging a bouquet of flowers – or unearthing the seeds of murder.
NEAR MRS.
Abby’s latest gig is the perfect marriage of her talents. Not only does her bride-to-be cousin, Jillian, want Abby to be a bridesmaid – she also wants her to sign on as floral designer and sleuth…
Though nearly once a year Jillian has agreed to marry a different man, she has yet to make it to the altar. But this time, it’s cold dead feet may stop the wedding. Before the couple says “I do,” one of the groomsmen disappears and another member of the wedding party is found dead. Luckily for Abby, she has plenty of help – including her brassy been-there-done-that assistant, a hunky bar owner with a penchant for love and justice, and her own family. Together, they aim to unveil the truth…and make sure the bride still gets her day to shine.
Dearly Depotted (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 3)
Published: July 5, 2005
Abby the florist is caught up in her cousin’s wedding drama. Poor thing’s juggling bridesmaid duties, flower arrangements, and watching the grandma – all while stuck in an awful dress! But then things get crazy when the groom’s grandma disappears and Abby stumbles onto a dead body in the church. Talk about wedding day jitters…
From the Publisher
Abby has her hands full at her cousin Jillian’s wedding as florist, bridesmaid, and grandma-sitter-all while wearing a hideous dress. Then the groom’s 90-year-old grandmother goes missing from the reception. On her search, Abby finds the corpse of guest Jack Snyder. Now she must find out who killed Jack in the pulpit.
Snipped in the Bud (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 4)
Published: May 2, 2006
Abby receives a floral delivery order—a black rose to her old law school prof, who’s a real jerk. Things go south when he trashes the flower and she runs into another professor she’s had beef with. Abby storms off but can’t let it go, so she goes back for the rose. And guess what? She finds the prof dead with the rose on him! Now she’s the main suspect.
From the Publisher
When I swapped the thorny problems of law school for the budding business of my flower store, Bloomers, I vowed that I, Abby Knight, wouldn’t be caught dead visiting that hateful campus ever again. But sometimes a girl’s got to face down her dragons….
PLANT OF ATTACK
Someone orders a black rose for Abby’s old law school nemesis, Professor “Snapdragon” Puffer. But her plans for a speedy delivery are foiled when he catches her putting the bloom on his desk and sends it straight into the trash. Abby flees in terror, only to run smack into Carson Reed, the professor who recently had her arrested at an animal rights protest. After a biting exchange, Abby storms out of the building. But if there’s anything she can’t stand, it’s injustice and bullies. So, even though she knows bad luck comes in threes, she ignores the advice of her sometimes boyfriend, hunk-a-licious Marco Salvare, and heads back in to retrieve her dignity and her flower—only to find the rose now decorating a dead professor, and herself the prime suspect….
Acts Of Violets (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 5)
Published: March 6, 2007
Abby’s boyfriend Marco goes MIA during a Pickle Fest, of all things. When he shows up, he’s suddenly suspect number one in a clown’s murder! Can you believe it? Poor Snuggles the clown was found dead, and Marco was the last one seen at his place. Abby’s sure Marco’s innocent, though, so she’s on a mission to clear his name.
From the Publisher
During the annual Pickle Fest, Abby’s boyfriend Marco inexplicably disappears for a day. When he returns, he’s the main suspect in the death of a clown. It seems the cops have found Snuggles pushing up water-spurting daisies-and Marco was the last person seen leaving Snuggles’s house. Although Marco is still a mystery to her, Abby knows he’s innocent. Now she has to find a way to prove it.
A Rose from the Dead (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 6)
Published: December 4, 2007
Abby is caught up in a murder at a funeral directors’ convention. The victim is a cutthroat organizer named Sybil, found dead in a casket. Abby’s friend is accused, so she starts sleuthing with her P.I. boyfriend. There’s a whole cast of quirky suspects—prankster sons, a “green burial” guy, and even a Goth girl who records souls! It’s a fun page-turner with a dash of dark humor.
I actually found this a perfect read for the Fall and Halloween season!
From the Publisher
Abby Knight discovers that sometimes death can be a little fun in the sixth Flower Shop Mystery…
Abby is amused by the black humor of the usually somber “death professionals” who are attending the Midwestern Funeral Directors Association’s regional convention. Even organizer Sybil Blount—known for her cutthroat business practices and the signature rose she wears in her wig—comes as a surprise…especially when her corpse is found in a closed casket. When Abby’s friend Delilah Dove is accused of the crime, Abby shifts into full investigation mode and learns that Sybil’s enemies included the prankster sons of a big-time funeral director, an eco-friendly purveyor of “green burials,” and a strange Goth girl who captures the “music” of departing souls on her tape recorder. It’s up to Abby and her P.I. boyfriend, Marco, to look beyond the trappings of death and find out who really loved Sybil—and who loved her not.
Shoots to Kill (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 7)
Published: August 5, 2008
Abby suddenly faces a blast from her past. This girl she used to babysit, Elizabeth, shows up after eight years, calling herself Libby. But she’s basically stolen Abby’s identity! She’s even trying to snag Abby’s boyfriend. Things get really wild when Abby ends up framed for murder. It’s a crazy story about identity theft with a murderous twist.
From the Publisher
Eight years ago, Abby Knight babysat for a problem teen named Elizabeth. Today, Elizabeth’s back, with a new name (Libby) and a whole new life (stolen)—namely, one that already belongs to Abby. Libby’s even trying to steal Abby’s boyfriend, Marco. But imitation really becomes the sincerest form of trouble when Abby finds herself the accused dupe in a bizarre murder plot.
Evil in Carnations (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 8)
Published: January 16, 2009
Abby gets her roommate Nikki to try speed dating. Nikki ends up going out with this guy Jonas, who’s got a reputation as a cheater. Next thing you know, Jonas turns up dead and Nikki’s the prime suspect! Abby and her hot ex-Army Ranger boyfriend Marco try to solve the case, but his crazy family keeps getting in the way. It’s a fun, fast-paced mystery with a dash of romance and family chaos.
From the Publisher
Determined to help her roommate Nikki out of her singles slump, Abby Knight encourages her to give speed dating a try. Of course, Nikki wants the guy at the very bottom of Abby’s list, Jonas Treat a.k.a. Treat the Cheat and figures just one date with him couldn’t hurt. But then Jonas is found dead and evidence points to Nikki as his killer.
To clear Nikki’s name, Abby enlists the help of her hunky ex-Army Ranger boyfriend, Marco. But Marco’s rambunctious extended family turns Abby’s hectic life into a disaster zone. With her patience seriously wilting, and a killer on the loose, Abby is determined to dig herself out of this mess before someone buries her instead…
Sleeping With Anemone (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 9)
Published: December 22, 2009
Abby is a gutsy florist who’s protesting against a big food corporation’s farming practices. She gets kicked out of their garden show, then someone throws a burning brick through her shop window! Things get really intense when she almost gets kidnapped multiple times. She calls in her ex-Ranger boyfriend and her whole crew for backup. And then, as if that wasn’t enough, there’s a murder.
From the Publisher
Maybe Abby Knight shouldn’t have chosen a home and garden show sponsored by Uniworld Food as the venue for her protest against the corporation’s harmful farming practices. But being bodily removed from the event won’t stop her campaign. Nor will a burning brick thrown through her flower shop’s window.
After she narrowly escapes being kidnapped three times, Abby calls in the big guns-her ex-Ranger boyfriend Marco and her friends and family. And then the stakes are raised by murder…
Dirty Rotten Tendrils (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 10)
Published: October 5, 2010
Abby gets tangled up in solving a lawyer’s murder. There’s a local celebrity, a lawsuit, and tons of small-town charm. Abby’s trying to clear her friend’s name while juggling her flower shop and cute boyfriend. It’s a fun, light read – perfect for a lazy weekend!
From the Publisher
When high-powered lawyer Ken “the Lip” Lipinski is found dead from a suspicious overdose, florist and amateur sleuth Abby Knight finds it hard to swallow that his opposing counsel—and her old boss—is the murderer.
Night of the Living Dandelion (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 11)
Published: April 5, 2011
This time, Abby’s fiancé’s friend Vlad is suspected of being a vampire. There’s a murder in town, and poor Vlad is the prime suspect. Abby and her man are racing to solve the case before things get really messy.
From the Publisher
Flower shop owner Abby Knight does not believe rumors that Vlad Serban, friend and employee of Abby’s fiancé Marco, is a vampire. But how to explain that Vlad is from Romania, has prominent canines, likes bizarre plants such as bloodwort and Dracula orchid, and dresses entirely in black?
When a local woman is found dead, her body drained of blood, the stakes become life and death. With Vlad the #1 suspect, Abby and Marco race to find the real killer, before Vlad’s life really starts to suck.
To Catch a Leaf (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 12)
Published: November 1, 2011
Our girl Abby’s finally engaged to Marco, but wouldn’t you know it, there’s another murder in town. This time, Abby’s assistant is the suspect! There’s stolen art and a missing cat—it’s quite the mess. Abby’s got to solve it all before she can enjoy her engagement.
From the Publisher
Flower shop owner Abby Knight is aglow with happiness now that she’s officially engaged to her longtime beau, Marco Salvare. Nothing can possibly dampen her joy-until wealthy dowager Virginia Newport is killed, and Abby’s assistant Grace Bingham is the prime suspect. The plot thickens when they stumble upon mysterious stolen art and a missing cat, all part of an elaborate heist. Before Abby can throw her bouquet, she’ll have to save her friend and throw a killer and a thief in jail…
Nightshade on Elm Street (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 13)
Published: November 6, 2012
Abby’s planning her wedding, but the poor thing’s juggling two moms wanting to throw her a shower. Plus her flaky cousin’s roped her into a missing person case—that involves her ex-fiancé! There’s a drowning, and suddenly her ex is a suspect. Abby’s got to solve it all while wedding planning.
From the Publisher
Enjoy her wedding shower…or receive a cold dunking?
In addition to running her flower shop, planning her wedding, and juggling two mothers who both want to host an elaborate bridal shower, Abby Knight is facing another complication. Her ditzy cousin Jillian asks her and her longtime beau, Marco, a private detective, to find a woman who’s gone missing from the exclusive beach house belonging to Jillian’s in-laws, the Osbornes. The missing woman is also the fiancée of Pryce Osborne, a wet noodle with a big bank account who dumped Abby just before their wedding several years ago. Merely being anywhere near Pryce makes Abby’s insecurities grow like kudzu….
Then a woman’s drowned body surfaces, and Pryce becomes a prime suspect in her death. Unless Abby and Marco can get a killer to come clean, their bridal shower will turn into a complete washout…and Pryce will be exchanging a sunny beach for a prison cell.
Seed No Evil (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 14)
Published: August 6, 2013
Abby’s getting married! But everything’s going wrong—flower shop issues, wedding drama, and her mom’s a murder suspect. Abby has to solve the case of a murdered animal rights activist while making final plans for the wedding. It’s got a cute dog, too!
From the Publisher
It’s finally time to say, “I do!” As long as I can keep my mom
out of jail long enough to get her to the ceremony….Someone’s Biting Mad.
Abby Knight’s wedding is in less than two weeks, and everything is going wrong. The cooler in her flower shop is leaking, her neck has swollen to unnatural proportions, her groom is acting distant, and she still doesn’t know where she’s actually getting married!
But things go from bad to worse when the director of her favorite charity, Protecting Animal Rights, is murdered, and Abby’s mother becomes the main suspect. Abby’s wedding worries will have to wait until she—along with her fiancé, Marco, and an adorable mutt named Seedy—can nose out who wanted the animal activist put to sleep. But they’ll have to sort through the long list of suspects quickly, or her mom may be tossed in the slammer before Abby tosses the bouquet….
Throw in the Trowel (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 15)
Published: February 4, 2014
Abby and her new hubby are just back from her honeymoon. Talk about a rude awakening—they find a skeleton in her hubby’s bar! It’s from the ’70s, so retro. Now they’re playing detective together, trying to solve this cold case. It’s got romance, mystery, and a dash of danger.
From the Publisher
I’m used to buried bulbs, not buried bodies…
The couple that sleuths together…
Flower Shop owner Abby Knight has just returned from a romantic honeymoon with the man of her dreams. There’s no reason for the bloom to be off the rose just because she and Marco are returning to normal life. But when Marco discovers a skeleton buried in the basement of his bar, it is a bit of a mood killer.
When the body is identified as a carpenter who went missing back in the 1970s, Abby and Marco decide to cultivate the clues to solve the cold case. What could be more romantic? But the deeper they dig, the more desperate the murderer grows. And if Marco and Abby don’t unearth the killer’s identity, they may not live to see their first anniversary.
A Root Awakening (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 16)
Published: February 3, 2015
Abby and Marco are house hunting—and solving mysteries, too! They witness a construction worker fall. Marco’s hired to investigate, while Abby’s secretly snooping on the weird family living there. It’s such a cute mix of newlywed life and mystery.
From the Publisher
Abby Knight’s marriage may be in full bloom, but house hunting is no bed of roses in latest novel in the New York Times bestselling Flower Shop Mystery series…
Now that they’ve tied the knot, flower shop owner Abby Knight and her husband, Marco, want to put down roots. When it comes to picking a house, Marco can’t wait to get his hands dirty, while Abby isn’t ready for a fixer-upper. But conflict really sprouts when they’re checking out a dilapidated Victorian and watch a construction worker take a life-threatening tumble.
Since witnesses claim the man shouted for help, suggesting that the fall was no accident, the victim’s flamboyant wife hires Marco to find the person responsible. Meanwhile, Abby keeps secret from Marco her own investigation into the home’s inhabitants, a family whose off-kilter behavior has aroused her suspicions. If only Abby’s very pregnant cousin, Jillian, will stop distracting Abby with false labor pains, she can conclude her own inquiries before Marco finds out…and her case blossoms into a disaster.
Florist Grump (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 17)
Published: October 27, 2015
Abby and her husband live with her parents while their new house is being built. Talk about stress. Everyone’s baby crazy, and she’s feeling the pressure. Then, wouldn’t you know it, there’s a murder in town! Abby and her husband are trying to clear their friend’s name—just a typical start to a new marriage! lol
From the Publisher
From the New York Times bestselling author of A Root Awakening, feisty florist Abby Knight is back with another knotty murder to solve in the next Flower Shop Mystery…
Life in Bloom
Stopping to smell the roses should be a must for flower shop owner Abby Knight, but stress has turned her into a major grump. While their house is under construction, Abby and her new husband, Marco, are living with her parents, who are driving her nuts. Not to mention that everyone has babies on the brain, with her cousin Jillian’s bundle of joy popping up in every conversation, and Marco’s mother dropping hints that she expects a new sprout from Abby and her son—as soon as possible!
But things get even thornier after a flashy former banker pushes up daisies. With a beloved window washer the prime suspect in the murder, other New Chapel shop owners rally around Abby and Marco to prove his innocence. With Abby’s energy wilting, she has to be on high alert—or she and Marco may not live to see their new home…
Moss Hysteria (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 18)
Published: April 5, 2016
The newlyweds have just moved into a picture-perfect neighborhood and quickly find a body in the pond! Now they’re playing detective to clear their neighbor’s name. Meanwhile, there’s a family drama with Marco’s mom’s new boyfriend and Abby’s crazy cousin. It’s such a fun mix of small-town secrets, family shenanigans, and mystery-solving.
From the Publisher
Abby and Marco’s new neighborhood isn’t as rosy as it seems in the latest Flower Shop Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Florist Grump and A Root Awakening.
Flower shop owner Abby Knight and her husband, Marco, are ecstatic to finally be moving into their new home, despite the prospect of unpacking a seemingly infinite number of boxes. After all, Brandywine—their new subdivision—seems like an oasis with its welcoming neighbors and beautifully manicured lawns.
But their idyllic community is suddenly uprooted when a body is found floating in a nearby pond. The police think Abby and Marco’s helpful next door neighbor is the culprit, but the newlyweds aren’t convinced.
Meanwhile, Marco distrusts his mother’s slick new boyfriend, and Abby’s cousin Jillian has agreed to decorate their new home, resulting in comic chaos. Even worse, as Abby and Marco dig through Brandywine’s secrets in search of a killer, they discover that some flowers come from very bad seeds…and danger stalks even the sunniest small-town streets.
Yews with Caution (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 19)
Published: May 30, 2017
Abby is trying to help her friend Nikki, who’s involved in a murder at the hospital. Meanwhile, Abby’s hubby Marco gets sick while they’re investigating. Poor Abby is juggling everything on her own!
From the Publisher
Flower shop owner Abby Knight is out to help a friend in need but soon finds herself in the weeds…
The Spring of Abby’s Discontent
It’s April in New Chapel, and Abby and her husband, Marco, are off to buy shrubs for their new house. But the owner of the local landscaping company is nowhere to be found. Abby’s best friend, Nikki, meanwhile, believes she unwittingly helped a group of her hospital coworkers conspire to kill the man.
After the police get involved, Nikki becomes a suspect. Abby digs deeper for clues to save her friend only to discover bushels of folks bearing a deep-rooted hatred for the two-faced business owner. Marco attempts to help Abby with the case but soon falls critically ill. Now Abby must find the real culprit on her own before everything goes to pot…
Kick The Bouquet (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 20)
Published: November 30, 2022
*Note that this book was not called book #20 in the publisher’s information; I added that since it’s the next full-length book in this series to come after #19 by the publication date!
Abby’s caught in a Thanksgiving dilemma—whose family to visit? But that’s nothing compared to her real problem: her hubby Marco’s a murder suspect! Their landlord, this realtor guy, was killed right after announcing some big changes. Now Abby’s playing detective, with a list of suspects to investigate. It’s such a fun mix of holiday stress and small-town murder mystery.
From the Publisher
Digging At The Roots . . .
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and Abby is in a pickle. Does she go to her parents’ house for dinner or break with tradition and go to Marco’s mother’s house instead? Abby’s mom is in a tizzy and Abby is desperately seeking a solution. But she has a bigger problem when hunky hubby Marco is a suspect in the murder of his landlord, realtor Arthur McMahon.
After the popular realtor is found stabbed to death in his office just after announcing plans to oust his renters, along with his decision to marry a woman his grown children detest, Abby and Marco have a host of suspects to investigate. Was it an angry renter or one of Arthur’s money-hungry children who decided to end his life? Or was it his young fiancé, the woman his children call the Black Widow?
Roses Are Dead, Violets Are Blue (A Flower Shop Mystery Book 21)
Published: February 9, 2024
*Note that this book was not called book #21 in the publisher’s information; I added that since it’s the next full-length book in this series to come after #20 by the publication date!
It’s Valentine’s Day, and Abby’s super busy, but then – bam! – there’s a murder at the local theater. Everyone’s talking about a curse, but Abby’s not buying it. She and her hunky husband, Marco, are playing detective, trying to solve the case before another murder happens. Nothing says love like a Valentine’s Day spent solving a murder! 🥰
From the Publisher
“An accident, a death, and a curse? I, Abby Knight Salvare, must find out how these three are connected . . . and the anticipation is killing me.”
Roses are Red, Violets are blue, Sugar is sweet . . . unless murder’s involved.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and Abby Knight Salvare and her crew at Bloomers Flower Shop are hard at work preparing for the busiest day of the year. But after Abby attends a play at the town’s theater, and the director, Richard Rose, is found dead, she’s convinced that Rose’s death is no accident and sets out to uncover the truth. Rumors of a curse surrounding the theater run rampant in Abby’s hometown of New Chapel, Indiana, but she refuses to believe a curse was the cause of Richard’s death.
As Abby digs deeper, she unearths a tangled web of secrets and lies that threaten to close the theater forever. With the help of her husband Marco Salvare, the hunky ex-Army Ranger who owns the local bar, Abby races against time to solve the mystery before the killer strikes again.
As the temperature drops and the threat of a major snowstorm looms, Abby and Marco must navigate their own relationship while untangling the threads of the case. Can they catch the killer and put the curse to rest? Or will the town of New Chapel be forever haunted by the ghosts of its past? Find out in “Roses Are Dead, Violets Are Blue,” the latest Flower Shop Mystery from New York Times best-selling author Kate Collins.
Novellas in the Flower Shop Mysteries Series
I so enjoy reading seasonal books throughout the year. I love it so much that I keep a running list of books set during seasons and holidays so I can re-read ones I liked and that gave me the feel-good vibe for that holiday or season.
These next four cozy mysteries are all part of the seasons collection and are in order of publication date.
Missing Under The Mistletoe (Flower Shop Mystery: Seasons Collection)
Published: December 13, 2017
Our heroine, Abby, runs a flower shop and gets tangled up in the disappearance of the town’s beloved Santa on Christmas Eve. She and her husband, Marco, race against time to solve the case and save the town’s holiday celebration. It’s a cozy, festive read with a twist!
From the Publisher
It’s Christmas Eve in New Chapel, Indiana. But this night will be anything but silent in a brand new Flower Shop Mystery Novella from New York Times bestselling author of Moss Hysteria and Yews With Caution.
After being hired to deliver poinsettias to Churchill’s department store in downtown New Chapel, feisty flower shop owner Abby Knight finds herself mixed up in the disappearance of everyone’s favorite Santa Claus, Mr. Churchill himself. Promising Churchill’s daughter that the legendary Christmas Eve celebration will not go on without her father, Abby must recruit her whole staff at Bloomers, and even her family, to help.
But while the excitement builds and the town square fills with revelers, there is one person who must come to terms with his own holiday mystery, Abby’s husband and partner, private investigator Marco Salvare. The clock is ticking down the minutes to the big celebration as clues are quickly uncovered, but Abby and Marco soon realize there is much more at stake than one man’s life. As the town gathers around for the lighting of the tree, and the suspect is just within arm’s reach, Team Salvare is barred from the case. Little does Abby know that her next move won’t just seal Santa’s fate, but the fate of Christmas itself hangs in the balance.
Tulips Too Late (Flower Shop Mystery: Seasons Collection)
Published: June 15, 2018
Abby, our florist-turned-sleuth, stumbles onto a murder while delivering tulips. When her cop friend gets sidelined, she and her husband, Marco, jump in to solve the case. They’re up against a corrupt detective and some serious risks, but Abby’s determined to find justice. It’s a real page-turner with a dash of flower power!
From the Publisher
It’s springtime in New Chapel, Indiana, but as the weather heats up, so too does the drama, in this thrilling new Flower Shop mystery novella from New York Times Bestselling Author, Kate Collins.
After arriving late for a tulip delivery, Bloomers Flower Shop owner Abby Knight Salvare stumbles upon a homicide in action. The killer flees the scene, leaving a trail of mysterious clues behind, but when Abby’s long-time friend, Sgt. Sean Reilly accidentally releases information to the press, he is forced to step away from the case. Having nowhere else to turn, and armed with a list of evidence that the detectives refuse to investigate, Sgt. Reilly enlists the help of Team Salvare to solve the case and set things right.
In order to solve this mystery, Abby and Marco must defy strict orders from a powerful old foe – a bull-headed corrupt detective – who promises that one wrong move will have them wrapped up in legal fees, courtroom battles, and possibly even worse. Abby’s passion for truth and unquenchable thirst for justice drives her forward even while the odds stack up against her. This will not only be Abby’s greatest challenge but also her greatest redemption, believing she may have been able to save someone’s life, had she not delivered those tulips…too late.
A Frond In Need (Flower Shop Mystery: Seasons Collection)
Published: August 29, 2020
This seasonal novella is set around July 4th in small-town Indiana. Abby, our florist-sleuth, is juggling parade preparations and her shop when her friend Nikki brings a problem. Nikki’s new boyfriend, a hot doctor, is a murder suspect! Abby’s on the case, racing to solve it before the holiday. It’s a perfect beach read with fireworks and intrigue!
From the Publisher
A FRIEND INDEED?
It’s Summertime in New Chapel, Indiana, and feisty florist Abby Knight Salvare is up to her neck in work – supervising the construction of her float for the Fourth of July parade, managing her flower shop Bloomers, reigning in her over-eager cousin Jillian, and working with her hunky husband Marco in his private detective business – when her best friend Nikki comes to her with a big problem. Blake Ryder, a handsome, charismatic surgeon at the New Chapel Hospital is a suspect in a murder case, and Nikki is supposed to go away with him for the holiday weekend.
Is Blake being targeted unfairly or has Nikki gotten herself involved with a real life lady-killer? The days are long and humid, the clues are leading in all directions, and the responsibilities are piling up as Independence Day quickly approaches. Abby can’t turn down a friend in need, but can she solve Nikki’s dilemma and handle all her other concerns before the fireworks?
Till Death Do Us Pot (Flower Shop Mystery: Seasons Collection)
Published: November 12, 2020
Abby, our favorite florist-sleuth, and her PI husband, Marco, are investigating a missing person case causing some marital tension. Meanwhile, Abby’s niece Tara gets into her own sleuthing adventure. It’s a cozy mystery with family drama and a dash of danger. Perfect for curling up on a chilly autumn evening!
From the Publisher
PLANTING SEEDS OF DOUBT…
In the final novella of the Seasons series, NY Times bestselling author Kate Collins brings the beloved characters from New Chapel back to the page like never before.
Fall has arrived in New Chapel, Indiana, and life has never been better for local florist Abby Knight Salvare and her handsome private eye husband, Marco, until a missing person’s case puts our two hometown heroes at odds, showing signs of stress in an otherwise perfect marriage. Town busybody Sylvie Freeman is certain that her twin brother has gone missing, although everyone in her family is convinced that Sylvie has officially gone off her rocker. She has hired Team Salvare to investigate, leading them into a mystery much bigger than either one could have imagined.
Tara Knight looks up to her crime-solving Aunt Abby – with the same red hair, short stature, and freckled cheeks – the two could be mistaken for sisters, but when a journalism assignment leads Tara into dangerous territory, her amateur sleuthing skills will be put to the ultimate test. Follow Abby and her young niece, Tara, as they walk the fine line between truth and fiction. Keep up with Marco’s investigation as it unravels before his eyes, and watch carefully as the intrepid Team Salvare piece together a mystery that may have them understand the true meaning of the vow . . . till death do us part.
Final Thoughts on the Flower Shop Mystery Series
I would love to hear your thoughts—will you or have you read the Flower Shop Mysteries in order, or do you not mind reading series out of order in a hodge-podge, which I find so topsy-turvy? lol
Post in the comments below or tag me on Facebook or Instagram, and let’s discuss.
Happy reading!
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