Review – Nipped in the Bud

Fuming over her argument with city manager, Bud Pickleman, Paige Turner’s anger fueled her first shovel thrust into the dirt. It would only be the first of many hours of hard work fulfilling her new landscaping contract for the city of Serendipity, Oregon with her fledgling landscaping company, The Garden Gate.

Now she worked inside temporary fencing erected when she learned she’d won the bid to modernize the park’s play area and prepare park grounds for the city’s annual Pickle Fest Festival. Her initial excitement over what to her was like winning the lottery for her company now turned to apprehension since her argument. If Pickleman made the city require more expensive portable chain-link fencing like he threatened, her small company could see bankruptcy before solvency.

She couldn’t stop thinking as she worked. If she lost her business how would that affect her gig as radio talk show host broadcast over station KALM? She’d attracted a large following of callers looking for gardening advice and the show paid the bills. She’d even given repeat callers affectionate nicknames like “Weed Whacker,” “Bamboozled,” and “Desperate.” Now everything was at risk! Even so, she couldn’t stop smiling at the memory of her parting words to Pickleman. “You do anything to interfere…so help me…you’ll wish you hadn’t.”

Paige couldn’t know her ill-chosen words would nominate her as prime suspect in a grim murder. One that would shock the small Oregon town and reveal everyone guarded long-held secrets no one wanted revealed.

Add a slew of eccentric characters, a light touch of romance with handsome defense attorney, Adam Hayes, a wacky friend and mix with murder, mayhem and delightful slap-stick comedy. And you have Sleeman’s character driven, debut cozy mystery, Nipped in the Bud, first of a planned series of three.

In addition, Paige’s quirky chapter beginnings, taken from tapes of her radio show Through the Garden Gate, are laugh-out-loud funny. As is Paige’s engaging habit of nicknaming friends, family and callers according to their similarities to plants.

If you’re looking for a light, cozy mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the last page is turned—Nipped in the Bud is for you. It has all the elements of a good mystery plus excellent dialogue, romance and satirical humor, without the hardened elements of blood, sex and gore. This author is a welcome addition to the cozy mystery genre!