Book Review: "The Deadly Garden" by Robin Stephanie

363 pages, published by Primedia eLaunch, LLC, ©2025

Driftwood Cove is a small town in Massachusetts. Like other small towns, Driftwood Cove's residents can be prone to a little gossip. It's an all-too familiar occurrence for Violet Primrose, whose garden is the talk of the town in Robin Stephanie's "The Deadly Garden".

Gardening is just one of Violet's jobs in Stephanie's book. Her garden yields herbs used to make salves that are sold in the local shops. Some of the herbs, like belladonna, are safe when used sparingly. If too much is used, the consequences could be deadly.

Unfortunately for Violet, the residents of Driftwood Cove don't realize some plants can be safe if they are used in the right way. People's misunderstanding of Violet and her plants intensifies when her friend, Dorian Drake, is poisoned to death. The town turns on Violet for murdering Dorian, a popular local artist. Violet must now face swirling rumors around town, a murder investigation led by no-nonsense Detective Silas Grant, and Dorian's on-again-off-again girlfriend Roxy. Roxy is certain Violet is Dorian's murderer, and she is determined to make sure Violet doesn't escape justice.

Suspicion follows Violet everywhere, from the local coffee shop to the bookstore where she works part-time. With the help of her friends Arthur and Chris, Violet travels all over town, including underground and in caves to uncover secrets that go all the way back to the Indian tribes that inhabited the land before the first Europeans set foot.

Violet and her friends comb Driftwood Cove for any clue that will lead them to Dorian's murderer. Standing in the way is Julia Hawthorne, a friend of Dorian who tries to lay claim to a painting in Dorian's studio. Violet, Arthur, and Chris are certain the painting has clues that can solve Dorian's murder. There is also a cave and a treasure chest. If the three friends can reach the cave and open the chest, they might have a chance of clearing Violet's name and finding out who the killer really is.

Detective Grant wants answers as much as the next person. He is willing to give Violet the benefit of doubt, but this is a murder investigation and he can't let any suspect get away from him. Grant has a job to do. It's not an easy one, but when Violet's gardens are poisoned and someone shoots at her and her friends, Silas Grant realizes Dorian's death is just the beginning of an unravelling story for the small town. He needs to make sure no one else dies and no evidence is destroyed if he wants to figure out who killed Dorian Drake.

Stephanie's book is a good read full of twists. The characters she creates don't leave one prime suspect, but multiple options throughout the book. Silas Grants character is a gruff-sounding cop, but he doesn't delve into a cliché. He is a seasoned veteran, but his human side shows he is concerned for Violet and the danger she and her friends are in. "The Deadly Garden" also has references to 80's music and, in keeping with one of Violet's jobs, references herbal plants and contains recipes for balms.