Murder Among the Marigolds by Diane Scotland

Genre: Murder Mystery

Star Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

Introduction

Cozy crime with a twist of charm and petals.

A dead developer. A prize display ruined. Chaos unfolds.

Yesterday, florist Lila Jennings argued with Maplewood’s most-hated developer.

Today, he’s dead. Right in the middle of her prize display.

Her best friend Lucy spins stories faster than a potter’s wheel.

While the bulldog-loving neighbor with a knack for showing up at the right time can’t resist joining in.

Meanwhile, Clementine the cat and Tank the bulldog unearth more than bones and biscuits.

And soon the suspect list stretches longer than a vine in June.

Small-town secrets grow wild when watered with lies.

Old scandals sprout fresh at every turn.

And Officer Daniel Reilly grows pricklier as more secrets are unearthed.

Every clue leads to twisted roots and comic chaos.

Will they be able to untangle the mess?

Murder Among the Marigolds is a witty and heartwarming cozy Mystery filled with small-town charm, quirky characters, and just enough romance to keep things blooming. Perfect for fans of Amanda Flower, Ellery Adams, and Vicki Delany.

Links

Review

This book feels like your favorite group chat mixed with every viral true-crime podcast on Spotify. Main character Lila has “relatable mess” energy-girl can barely keep her hair tangle-free but somehow keeps track of red herrings, missing receipts, and angry bulldogs like a boss.

Ethan is the cinnamon roll bestie we all want, and Tank (the bulldog) straight-up licks tension out of any scene, mood. Clementine the kitten? MVP. Not a plot point goes by without her causing some chaos.

What really works is how all the clues come together - a cryptic notebook here, messy social media rumors there, secret meetings and random receipts everywhere. The investigation feels less Sherlock and more “let’s try everything, spill some lemonade, hope nobody posts us to r/MaplewoodDrama.”

The cast? Gossip-prone neighbors, shady festival organizers, exes lurking around flower beds—it’s got all the small-town “everyone knows everyone’s business” vibes. Plus, the dialogue slaps. People roast each other, tension is served with a side of memes, and Lila’s clumsiness gets in the way of everything but the truth.

What’s wild: so many suspects. Brenda with her tragic hat game, Ronica’s suspicious late-night shed rummaging, and Stan the baker glowering at almond milk receipts. There’s a little rom-com energy between Lila and Ethan, but it’s more “mutual emotional support” than “let’s hit the romance subplot.”

The festival atmosphere is pure serotonin - a dog in a tutu, chaos over marigold arrangements, people live-posting drama and dropping likes, and a genuinely weird conspiracy wall made of sticky notes.

What I Liked

• Millennial banter and group-chat vibes.murder-among-the-marigolds.pdf

• Animal sidekicks with actual plot value.

• Plot is tight but never too dark—pure cozy mood.

• Small-town eccentricity, messy friendships, relatable anxiety.

• Twisty evidence trail (the notebook and catnip receipt bits? Iconic!).

  
  

What Could Be Better

• Maybe too many suspects. Required a bit of backtracking—at times felt like “main character energy” was shared among the whole town.

• Ending was satisfying but a bit rushed. Wanted just a smidge more consequences for the town’s shadier council and festival leaders.

• Dialogue sometimes felt like it was trying for meme status.