Pushing Up Daisies by Rosemary Harris

She leaned in. "How many men do you know who can move their fingers and push in and out at the same time?"
~Page 201

Title: Pushing Up Daisies
Author: Rosemary Harris
ISBN: 9780312943721
Publisher: St. Martins/2008
Pages: 288

Paula Holliday, a television executive in New York City quits her job and moves to Springfield, CT. She wants to turn her interest in gardening to a career. She gets her chance in the restoration of the gardens of a property left to the Historical society, by Dorothy Peacock. She knows it will either make her or break her.

While digging, she discovers a body of a baby, which seems to be very old. The local authorities, thinking it would bring bad name to the Peacock sisters, drop the case. But Paula can't. She finds too many loose ends to rest. 

Then one her helpers is arrested for attempted murder of a old lecher. She knows Hugo is innocent although the local police does not believe her. She has a friend in an aging rocker, babe who owns the greasy diner in that place. There is this mysterious Mexican labourer and more secrets tumble out. The list of suspects include the local congressman, and his gin drinking mother. With more interesting characters thrown in, Paula has a field day unearthing all the town's deeply buried secrets. In the way, she makes a few enemies too. She also solves a 50 year old case.

With varied mix of characters, a good town setting, long buried secrets and of course a past and a recent murder, this cozy mystery is also filled with wit. It has gardening tips too.  

The author was kind enough to give me two of her books, that too, when she was in Delhi and had them sent to me.

I don't do challenges but.....

I read a lot of Crime Fiction and I started the new year by reading Cozy Mystery. So I thought I will go in for those challenges where I don't have to think what to read.

I found this 2011 Cozy Mystery Reading challenge hosted by Debbie's Book Bag and thought why not join it. A cakewalk really!

There are three levels:

Amateur Detective: Read 1-5 Cozy Mystery's
Private-Eye: Read 6-10 Cozy Mystery's
GumShoe: Read 11 or more Cozy Mystery's


Also joining in Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2011 hosted by Yvonne of Socrates' Book Review.

1. Choose the level you wish to participate:

Level 1 - Snoop - Read 1-6 books
Level 2 - Investigator - Reading 7-12 books
Level 3 - Super Sleuth - Read 13 or more books

I am not committing for any level now. Will do that as I go along!