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    The Red Book of Primrose House
    The Red Book of Primrose House
    The Red Book of Primrose House
    Audiobook10 hours

    The Red Book of Primrose House

    Written by Marty Wingate

    Narrated by Erin Bennett

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Pru Parke has her dream job: head gardener at an eighteenth-century manor house in Sussex. The landscape for Primrose House was laid out in 1806 by renowned designer Humphry Repton in one of his meticulously illustrated Red Books, and the new owners want Pru to restore the estate to its former glory-quickly, as they're planning to showcase it in less than a year at a summer party.

    But life gets in the way of the best laid plans: When not being happily distracted by the romantic attentions of the handsome Inspector Christopher Pearse, Pru is digging into the mystery of her own British roots. Still, she manages to make considerable progress on the vast grounds-until vandals wreak havoc on each of her projects. Then, to her horror, one of her workers is found murdered among the yews. The police have a suspect, but Pru is certain they're wrong. Once again, Pru finds herself entangled in a thicket of evil intentions-and her, without a hatchet.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateMar 22, 2016
    ISBN9781515973966
    The Red Book of Primrose House

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    Reviews for The Red Book of Primrose House

    4/5

    21 ratings4 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This was an entertaining, cozy mystery. Pru Parke is an England and has landed a dream job. She is restoring the gardens at an eighteenth-century manor house. If only someone wasn't trying to sabotage her work by acts of vandalism and, if only, her employer would quit sending her emails filled with her latest "good ideas."Pru is busy working on restoring the gardens on a very short timeline. She is also trying to maintain a long-distance relationship with Inspector Christopher Pearse who is also massively busy in London. When vandalism turns to murder, Pru begins investigating to clear her employees and winds up putting herself in danger.I had figured out the murderer early on but it was still entertaining to watch Pru investigate. The story was filled with interesting characters. Even the most minor, like the nosy neighbor, were well-rounded people. I enjoyed watching Pru try to juggle her work responsibilities with her growing romance with Christopher. I also enjoyed seeing her work out her relationship with her newly-discovered family. I think what I liked best was the the romance was between two fifty-somethings who had lives and histories that had to be balanced.Fans of cozy mysteries and gardeners (I don't know a dandelion from a petunia myself) will enjoy this story.
    • 5/5
      The Red Book of Primrose House is the second book in the thoroughly entertaining Potting Shed Mystery series. With a perfect blend of gardening, history, romance, and mystery it will keep you turning pages until the satisfying conclusion. Pru Parke has always wanted to live and work in England and explore her British roots. Now in her mid-50’s, she’s finally done it. She’s been hired as head gardener at an eighteenth-century manor house in Sussex to restore the estate to its former glory. It’s a dream, and so is her romance with Inspector Christopher Pearse, although their long-distance relationship is not ideal. Neither is the vandalism – and then murder – that have Pru once again playing detective.I enjoyed everything about this story, starting with the hatchet on the cover through the very unique prologue that describes the murder in the victim’s voice to the suspense and finally the solution to the mystery that kept me guessing. The characters and plot are well developed. Pru is likable and mature, and her romance with Christopher is sexy and well done.
    • 3/5
      The Red Book of Primrose House by Marty Wingate is the second title in the Potting Shed Cozy mystery series The protagonist is an American gardener working in England. She has just gotten her first head gardener position at a small estate and has to recreate the original garden. The characters are well done and the mystery is good but I thought there was a romance element that was too distracting. I would have liked the book more if it had been less of the plot. Still, I'll read the next in the series because I think there is a marriage between books. If not, I'll probably opt not to continue.
    • 3/5
      3.5 starsTexan transplant Pru (Prunella) Parke was offered and accepted the position of head gardener at Primrose House in Sussex. Using the famous Red Book of Humphry Repton, Pru’s mission is to restore the gardens to their former glory. Hiring Pru, versus the local applicant, has created tension and bad feelings locally. Are those feelings strong enough to justify the murder of one of Pru’s crew?THE RED BOOK OF PRIMROSE HOUSE (Potting Shed Mystery #2) was my introduction to Pru and Christopher. Pru is half English (mother) and Texan (father). Her mother’s stories about England created a yearning in Pru, from a young age, to live in England. She finally makes the leap and at the end of #1 is offered the head gardener post at Primrose House ensuring her stay in England. There’s a lot I like and enjoy about Pru. Her maturity, she’s fifty-four. Her work ethic, gardening isn’t easy work but it does have numerous benefits physical and mental. She’s intelligent, has a sense of humor and is courageous. Not many people would pull up stakes leaving everything behind and move to another country. Now here is what bewildered me about Pru. Feeling an affinity for another country or place when you’ve grown up hearing stories about it and experiencing many of its traditions is understandable. There’d naturally be a desire to see and experience it yourself. What’s hard to fathom is why Pru would want to suppress her Texan. She pretty much has the British reserve down with the exception of a cry or two. These lapses are completely understandable given the circumstances. What I didn’t see was any real evidence of the justifiably famous Southern warmth and charm. On the contrary, she tries to keep Texas from her speech and hides to drink ice tea? Why? Is there an attempt to explain this in the first book?Christopher Pearce, Pru’s fella. Christopher is a DCI at the Met in London. He’s handsome, intelligent, and not the least reserved when with Pru. They have the weekends but soon discover that isn’t enough. Nor is he close enough to suit him when the garden vandalism incidents begin. He’s aware of Pru’s penchant for getting involved and the danger that can entail. His protective streak is endearing, even more so as he can’t always be there or fix everything. His feelings obviously run deeply. There’s no shortage of passion and intensity between these two. THE RED BOOK OF PRIMROSE HOUSE is the only mystery I can recall where the prologue is the murder from the victims point of view. The first chapter then pre-dates the murder giving the reader a unique perspective. This literary device actually made it easier for me to suss out the who in whodunit. The secondary characters are well developed. However, taking into account the ending of THE RED BOOK OF PRIMROSE HOUSE and the nature of Pru’s work these appear likely to change each book, with a few exceptions of course. THE RED BOOK OF PRIMROSE HOUSE is an entertaining niche cozy liberally laced with clever red herrings and a mature protagonist who is taking life by the horns and giving it her all. The gardening details combined with the historical aspect of the Red Books and their author is especially interesting. Personally speaking, historical additions always make a good read better. Reviewed for Miss Ivy’s Book Nook Take II & Manic Readers