On Flashback Fridays I will share with you
the books I was not able to review
when they were first released that have been screaming at me
from my To-Be-Read bookshelf.
I apologize. When I made this post, the book was free. I am adding a giveaway – see below.
The Broken Bridge: A Succulent Sleuth Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Ohio
Publisher : Wandering Ginkgo Press
Publication date : February 17, 2024
Print length : 174 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-13 : 979-8985918250
ASIN : B0CV8VZPP3
Paperback
ISBN-13 : 979-8985918212
ASIN : B09Y456LQH
Kindle
ISBN-13 : 979-8985918205
ASIN : B09Y89HS5W
An abandoned backpack. A damaged walking stick. A broken bridge. What happened on the Buckeye Trail?
Succulent-savvy sleuth, Molly Green spends her day tending her eco-friendly garden center, inherited from her beloved grandparents. She wants nothing more than to nurture her nursery and share her plant passion with the world.
When a hiker goes missing on the Buckeye Trail that runs behind the garden center and a bridge on the trail is damaged, the police suspect foul play. As clues mount up, Molly fears she may know who is to blame, perhaps someone in her own family.
To make matters worse, Molly must navigate the inconvenient appearance of an overly talkative colleague, pulling her from her path to uncover the mystery of the broken bridge.
Can she discover what really happened that day on the trail? Or will the spikes and thorns surrounding this mystery take Molly out as well?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Molly Green is passionate about plants with a special interest in succulents. She has inherited her eco-friendly garden center from her grandparents. It’s right near the entrance to the Buckeye Trail, so hikers routinely visit. When a hiker disappears from the trail, a backpack, a broken walking stick, and a broken bridge are found, the police and Molly know something bad has happened. Molly is nervous; she may know who committed the crime. Will she be able to dig through the clues and uncover what happened on the trail? Or will she have planted her last succulent?
Ms. March has created a great cast of core characters for her Succulent Sleuth Cozy Mystery Series. Molly and May are twins. Molly has the green thumb, and May handles the financials and marketing. They, along with their cousin, Shannon, inherited the garden center from their grandparents. Shannon doesn’t have much to do with the business, but the twins keep her informed. Scott is married to Molly. Joe is married to May, and they have two children, Hannah and Noah. The garden center also has a resident cat named Sherlock. Claudia is Molly’s friend, and the center has three other employees. I really enjoyed meeting all the characters. I appreciated Molly’s eco-awareness regarding the business and her creativity with garden plans and succulent arrangements. May is more outspoken, while Molly is quieter and more introverted. There is ample opportunity for character development as the series continues.
The author plotted out a mystery that was hard to solve. With a small cast of characters, I found myself paring down my list to a couple who may be guilty. Molly made an error in judgment that led her to being trapped by the killer. This leads to an exciting game of hide-and-seek, culminating in a humorous takedown and a satisfying rescue.
The author has a wonderful descriptive writing style that makes each scene clear to see in my mind. I was in the garden center and on the trail. She blended compelling subplots with the murder mystery, which kept the pages flowing nicely.
The Broken Bridge has given this series a fine start. This book grabbed my interest with engaging characters, a fun theme, and an entertaining story. I’m late to the party for this series. The fifth book, The Corpse by the Creek, is being released on June 2. I want to get to know these characters better, so the next three books are waiting for me on my Kindle, with book 5 to be added soon.
*This book is from my private collection. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
Iris March has a reputation for killing house plants, and now she’s killing people off in books? Coincidence? Perhaps not. Iris has spent two decades working in the sustainability field and is usually either reading a book or on a trail. She lives in Ohio with her husband, son, and three cats.
Author Links
Blue Sky Instagram Facebook Website
I am giving away a Kindle Copy!
The contest is open to individuals 18 years of age or older.
with a US or Canadian mailing address.
Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.
The Contest Will End on May 8, 2026, at 11:59 PM CST
The Winner Will Be Chosen Using Random.org
The Winner will be notified by email and posted here in the sidebar.
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas.
About the Author
You must be logged in to post a comment.