Throw in the Trowel

PRAISE FOR THE

FLOWER SHOP MYSTERIES

Seed No Evil

“Kate Collins has played a major role in shaping the offshoot of the ‘cozy' mystery into a growing entity of its own, the romantic mystery. I, for one, am grateful.”

—Once Upon a Romance

Nightshade on Elm Street

“Abby's warm and caring relationships, especially with Marco, will draw readers back as this cozy series continues to grow.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Pleasant and entertaining, just what a cozy should be. . . . Colorful characters and a bit of romance add whimsy.”

—
Romantic Times

“The investigation contains entertaining red herrings and twists . . . a fun lighthearted whodunit.”

—Genre Go Round Reviews

“A delightful installment. . . . I can't wait to see what awaits Abby and Marco in marriage.”

—Fresh Fiction

To Catch a Leaf

“There are twists and surprises along with the comfort of the characters we have all grown to love. . . . This story is a must read!”

—Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book

“Ms. Collins has a devious and creative mind when it comes to each new Flower Shop mystery. Her plots are ingenious [and] Abby and Marco's chemistry is alluring.”

—Once Upon a Romance

Night of the Living Dandelion

“Great plotting and interesting secondary characters add depth and humor. . . . Abby and Marco's relationship strengthens and sizzles.”

—
Romantic Times

“A heartwarming cozy. . . . Fans of the series will feel mesmerized by the plot.”

—Genre Go Round Reviews

Dirty Rotten Tendrils

“Each book in this series contains murder, continuous mayhem, a bit of sizzle, and one justice-seeking amateur sleuth.”

—Once Upon a Romance

“Abby is an excellent heroine who finds herself in some of the most unlikely, entertaining situations.”

—The Mystery Reader

Sleeping with Anemone

“A nimble, well-crafted plot with forget-me-not characters.”

—Laura Childs, author of the Tea Shop Mysteries

“A treat not to be missed.”

—Kate Carlisle,
New York Times
bestselling author of the Bibliophile Mysteries

“A clever, fast-moving plot and distinctive characters add up to fun.”

—JoAnna Carl, author of the Chocoholic Mysteries

Evil in Carnations

“The fun, family, and romance are still fresh, and the mystery is tidily wrapped up, with just enough suspense to keep readers flipping pages.”

—
Romantic Times

“Ms. Collins's writing remains above par with quality and consistency: fun and breezy, intriguing and suspenseful, excitement and sizzle.”

—Once Upon a Romance

Shoots to Kill

“Colorful characters, a sharp and funny heroine, and a sexy hunk boyfriend.”

—Maggie Sefton, author of the Knitting Mysteries

“Once again Kate Collins delivers an entertaining, amusing, and deliciously suspenseful mystery.”

—Cleo Coyle, author of the Coffeehouse Mysteries

A Rose from the Dead

“The latest Flower Shop Mystery is an amusing graveyard amateur sleuth that will have the audience laughing.”

—The Best Reviews

Acts of Violets

“A delightful lighthearted cozy.”

—The Best Reviews

Snipped in the Bud

“Lighthearted and fast-paced, Collins's new book is an entertaining read.”

—
Romantic Times

Dearly Depotted

“Abby is truly a hilarious heroine. . . . Don't miss this fresh-as-a-daisy read.”

—
Rendezvous

“Ms. Collins's writing style is crisp, her characters fun . . . and her stories are well thought-out and engaging.”

—Fresh Fiction

Slay It with Flowers

“What a delight! Ms. Collins has a flair for engaging characters and witty dialogue.”

—Fresh Fiction

“You can't help but laugh . . . an enormously entertaining read.”

—
Rendezvous

Mum's the Word

“Abby Knight [is] rash, brash, and audacious. Move over, Stephanie Plum. Abby Knight has come to town.”

—Denise Swanson,
New York Times
bestselling author of the Scumble River Mysteries

“A bountiful bouquet of clues, colorful characters, and tantalizing twists. . . . Kate Collins carefully cultivates clues, plants surprising suspects, and harvests a killer in this fresh and frolicsome new Flower Shop Mystery series.”

—Ellen Byerrum, author of the Crime of Fashion Mystery series

“As fresh as a daisy, with a bouquet of irresistible characters.”

—Elaine Viets, author of the Dead End Job Mysteries

Other Flower Shop Mysteries

Mum's the Word

Slay It with Flowers

Dearly Depotted

Snipped in the Bud

Acts of Violets

A Rose from the Dead

Shoots to Kill

Evil in Carnations

Sleeping with Anemone

Dirty Rotten Tendrils

Night of the Living Dandelion

To Catch a Leaf

Nightshade on Elm Street

Seed No Evil

Throw in the Trowel

A Flower Shop Mystery

Kate Collins

OBSIDIAN

Published by the Penguin Group

Penguin Group (USA) LLC, 375 Hudson Street,

New York, New York 10014

USA | Canada | UK | Ireland | Australia | New Zealand | India | South Africa | China

penguin.com

A Penguin Random House Company

First published by Obsidian, an imprint of New American Library,

a division of Penguin Group (USA) LLC

Copyright © Linda Tsoutsouris, 2014

Excerpt from
Seed No Evil
copyright © Linda Tsoutsouris, 2013

Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.

OBSIDIAN and logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

ISBN 978-1-101-63734-0

PUBLISHER'S NOTE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

To my son, Jason, who knows my characters' voices as well as I do and has a knack for finding the humor in a scene.

To my daughter, Julie, who embodies the energy and enthusiasm for life that my main character, Abby Knight, has and, like Abby, can't resist a challenge.

To my gifted editor, Ellen Edwards, who has an unerring sense of what makes my stories sparkle.

To my fellow Cozy Chicks, Ellery Adams, Deb Baker, Lorraine Bartlett, Julie Hyzy, Maggie Sefton, Leann Sweeney, and Heather Webber, for their constant support and encouragement.

As always, to my beloved husband and soul mate, Jim. Even though you're not physically with me anymore, I feel your spiritual love and support and hear your marvelous voice through Marco.

And to the many fans of the Flower Shop Mystery series, I leave you with this quote and hope you find its essence in this book. Maybe not so much the wrinkles.

“With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.”

—William Shakespeare

PROLOGU
E

Marco

S
un is shining. Day is young. Time to get up and make the coffee, soldier
.

Problem was, I couldn't stop gazing at my lovely wife. She was lying against my side in the middle of our bed, red hair fanned out around her face . . . My
wife.
I was still having a hard time absorbing that. Abby Knight—make that Abby Knight
Salvare—
was
my
wife, which made me ping-pong between being unbelievably happy and utterly overwhelmed by my new responsibility.

As a private investigator and former Army Ranger, I was used to the inherent risks and hazards of those occupations. But now, with Abby insisting on being my partner in the PI business, the risks loomed large and sinister. I couldn't even begin to think what I would do if something bad happened to her. I'd sooner lose my life.

I had to blame Abby for that. Before I met her I was fiercely independent. A loner who liked it that way. Sure, I dated, or at least made the effort, but the women I met bored me. They were flirty and giggly, snapping photos and texting their friends about me, attracted by my looks,
supremely
fascinated about my life as a private eye—until they weren't.
You follow people? How dull is that?

And then a small ball of fire opened a flower shop two doors down from the bar I'd just bought, and my world changed overnight. I knew Abby
liked
my looks—not meaning to brag, but that was what first attracted women to me. Not for Abby, though. My investigative work intrigued her, drew her like a moth to the flame, as her assistant Grace Bingham would say. My buddy Reilly called Abby a trouble magnet. I called her Sunshine, because she was all that and more to me.

So my new policy was hands off any investigation that even hinted of danger. I didn't care if a hole opened up in the earth and threatened to swallow the town, nothing was going to darken my Sunshine.

I eased off the bed and crept out of the room, our little mutt, Seedy, at my heels. Once I had Seedy fed, I ground the coffee beans so Abby would have a fresh brew. I wanted my apartment to feel like home to her.

Don't forget, Abby's a breakfast person.

Oh, right. There had to be oatmeal in the kitchen somewhere.