Julia Lanchester must defend her love nest from an invasive species: her boyfriend's sister. And then there's the little matter of murder . . . "The cuckoo comes in April and sings its song in May. In June it changes tune and July it flies away." Wedding bells are ringing in the small British village of Smeaton-under-Lyme. Julia Lanchester's second-in-command at the local tourist center is finally getting married, and the lovebirds are giving Julia and her live-in boyfriend, Michael Sedgwick, ideas about their own future. But before anyone can say "Will you," Michael's flighty older sister, Pammy, crashes the party, fresh off a breakup and lugging all her worldly possessions around with her in a tangle of plastic bags. Before long, Julia's cozy cottage starts feeling more like Pammy's bachelorette pad. To keep herself from going cuckoo, Julia throws herself into her pet projects at work—until death disrupts her plans. First a...

Bestselling author Marty Wingate "plants clever clues with a dash of romantic spice," raves Mary Daheim. Now Wingate's inimitable gardening heroine, Pru Parke, is importing a precious bloom from Texas—and she won't let a vicious murder stop her. Pru's life in England is coming full circle. A Texas transplant, she's married to the love of her life, thriving in the plum gardening position she shares with her long-lost brother, and prepping a Chelsea Flower Show exhibit featuring the beloved bluebonnets of the Texas hill country. Technically, Twyla Woodford, the president of a gardening club in the Lone Star State, is in charge of the London event, but Pru seems to be the one getting her hands dirty. When they finally do meet, Pru senses a kindred spirit—until Twyla turns up dead. Although Twyla's body was half buried under a wall in their display, Pru remains determined to mount a spectacular show. Twyla would have insisted. So Pru recruits her...

Shakespeare comes to Hampshire—and Pru Parke is cast into the role of cunning detective gardener once again. Pru's friends and neighbors are abuzz with the news of an acting troupe putting on an outdoor performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream. And while many are eager to catch a glimpse of famed actor Ambrose Grant, Pru can't wait to finally see the spectacular gardens of the private estate where the play will be performed. When the estate's gardener abruptly quits—frustrated with actors trampling his beloved plants—Pru is called upon for her gardening expertise. She throws herself into creating magical woodland forest scenes, and is quickly drawn into the excitement of putting on a play, as she watches the drama on and off the stage. But the play's suddenly no longer the thing, when one of the actors turns up murdered. Pru's husband, Detective Inspector Christopher Pearse, relies on Pru's knowledge of all the players in this particular...