Poisoned Petals

Praise for the Peggy Lee Garden Mysteries Fruit of the Poisoned Tree

“I cannot recommend this work highly enough. It has everything: mystery, wonderful characters, sinister plot, humor, and even romance. The way the authors merge plant knowledge into the story line is great! Come on! Does it get much better than this? I am a fan for life; well done Joyce and Jim, keep ’em coming!”

—Midwest Book Review

“All the characters are well drawn and cleverly individualized. The botanical information never gets in the way of the story, and the plot is just complex enough to keep the reader in suspense.”— ReviewingTheEvidence.com

“I love the world of Dr. Peggy Lee! The Lavenes have a wonderful way of drawing their readers into the world of well-rounded and sympathetic characters . . . Well crafted with a satisfying end that will leave readers wanting more!”—Fresh Fiction

“The authors do a wonderful job of crafting a mystery that is organic to both Peggy’s area of expertise and her personal involvement. Information about plants and gardening is woven seamlessly into the narrative . . . I’m looking forward to much more in this series.”

—The Romance Reader’s Connection

Pretty Poison

“A fun and informative reading experience . . . With a touch of romance added to this delightful mystery, one can only hope many more Peggy Lee mysteries will be hitting shelves soon!”—Roundtable Reviews

“A fantastic amateur sleuth mystery ... Will appeal to men and women of all ages . . . A great tale.”

—The Best Reviews

“Peggy is a great character . . . For anyone with even a modicum of interest in gardening, this book is a lot of fun. There are even gardening tips included.”

—The Romance Reader’s Connection

“The perfect book if you’re looking for great suspense . . . Pretty Poison is the first in the Peggy Lee Garden Mystery series, and I can’t wait for the next!”—Romance Junkies

“Joyce and Jim Lavene have crafted an outstanding who-dunit in Pretty Poison, with plenty of twists and turns that will keep the reader entranced to the final page. Peggy Lee is a likable, believable sleuth and the supporting characters add spice, intrigue, and humor to the story.”

—Fresh Fiction

“Complete with gardening tips, this is a smartly penned, charming cozy, the first book in a new series. The mystery is intricate and well plotted. Green thumbs and nongardeners alike will enjoy this book.”— Romantic Times

Peggy Lee Garden Mysteries by Joyce and Jim Lavene

PRETTY POISON

FRUIT OF THE POISONED TREE

POISONED PETALS

Our thanks to Marysue Rogers of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for her help.

1

Schweinitz’s Sunflower

Botanical: Helianthus schweinitzii

Family: Asteraceae

A prairie sunflower native to the U.S. state of North Carolina. It was named for Lewis David von Schweinitz, a Salem, North Carolina, clergyman. Considered endangered. The tubers of the Schweinitz sunflower were a food source for early pioneers.

“SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LET things die.” The North Carolina Department of Transportation supervisor