Steph has arrived at her new job as garden consultant at Ashford Manor. Everyone is nice, apart from Blythe - the head gardener, they are all very welcoming.
During the night Steph hears arguing and asks the other staff about it in the morning, but no one else heard anything. When, a few days later, a dead body turns up and the Police are very quick to label it as suicide, Steph has other ideas. With her trusty dog Mouse in tow, she decides to find out the truth.
A very entertaining read.

Murder Takes Root is book 2 in The Gardener Mysteries series.

Steph has been hired as a garden consultant at the Ashford Manor where she is also given a place to stay in a fairytale-like tower. The staff at the manor are welcoming and friendly with Steph all except for the head gardener. But when one of the staff allegedly commits suicide, Steph is certain that it is in fact a murder!

So I wanted to read a nice, cozy mystery and found the first book in the series through Prime reading and when I finished the book I had a look for this book and if it was available to read but saw that it hadn't been released it yet. But then I thought I'd check on NetGalley to see if they had an ARC and to my surprise they did!

I enjoyed this book just as much as the first and liked how it takes place in a different setting with new characters. I look forward to reading the next book in the series soon.

Murder takes Root takes place at a British country manor. Steph has been hired to oversee the formal gardens and is looking forward to working there. Everyone is very pleasant except for the gardener - he is outright rude and hostile. When a young staff member is found dead, the police believe it is suicide but Steph does not agree and investigates.
This is the second book in the Garden Mysteries and I look forward to reading more. I like the author’s writing style - it flows well and she has interesting characters. A truly enjoyable cozy mystery.

A Derbyshire country house estate provides a charming setting for this mystery. Steph Williams has been employed by Lady Clara to recreate some of the estates important landscape features as originally designed by celebrated landscaper George London in the late 17th century. The house and gardens are delightfully described and the botanical references throughout provide a nice addition to the story.

There are quite a few characters in the story and part way in I did have to recap on the first couple of chapters and make a list. Steph’s character is well developed as is that of her dog, Mouse. I felt that some of the characters were not always portrayed consistently and the scenes with the investigating police officers were a little weak.

Overall though I enjoyed the story and would definitely read others in this series.

The novel gets off to a good start. We are introduced to a murder before we even reach the first chapter. The setting is very reminiscent of Downton Abbey and there are some colourful characters here, my favourite being Sir Angus. Steph Williams, our protagonist, is a very motherly sort of character who takes the younger characters under her wing. I was pleased that we got deeper into Steph's personality and background this time. Her lovable dog Mouse really steals the show and he is always there when she needs him. The central plot was clever, but it jumped around a lot for me, I would have liked for Steph to take the lead much earlier in investigating the murder than she did. I like hearing about food, but there were too many breakfast scenes for me and long conversations that stalled the plot. Overall, this novel had a very good premise and I could tell it was written by someone with a keen gardening interest but it needed to have more pace and action to get me more absorbed in the story. I am interested in reading the next book to find out more about Steph’s storyline. 3.5 stars

This book starts off a little slowly but does pick up pace about 40% of the way through. There are numerous suspects, twists and turns and red herrings to keep things interesting, and I didn't guess who the culprit was either. I especially enjoyed the characters of Steph and of course Mouse. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I had read the first in the series, but you don't need to have done that to enjoy this because Rosie catches you up with the bits you need to know.

Steph Williams is a garden consultant; her new commission is to restore the landscape gardens of Lady Clara's ancestral home. She and her lovely dog Mouse get on well with most of her fellow employees at Ashford Manor - apart from one, who doesn't seem to get on with anyone. But then the most popular staff member is found dead. The police think it's suicide, but Steph is sure it's murder - and so she investigates.

Good characterisation; tight plot; lovely snippets of gardening; good red herrings; and Angus is an utterly fabulous character!

Five stars.

A good second book. Steph and mouse are thrown into yet another crime! Read as she navigates her new surroundings, dealing with gardening, family drama and an unexpected border to solve! Can she find out what really happened before it’s too late?

A well written, brilliant cosy mystery! The perfect sequel!

Murder Takes Root

The Gardener Mysteries Book 2

Steph has been commissioned to restore the stately gardens at Ashford Manor. Steph and her dog Mouse are readily accepted by all of the staff, with the exception of the surly head gardener. When one of the staff is found dead in his room, the police are quick to deem it a suicide, but Steph is sure it was murder, and is determined to find justice for her young friend. This book starts off slowly but picks up pace about halfway through. There are multiple suspects and red herrings and I was surprised by who the culprit turned out to be. I like that each book takes place in a new setting with Steph and a new cast of characters. I especially enjoy the antics of Steph's sweet dog Mouse. My thanks to netgalley and Embla Books for this book read and review.

contemporary, local-law-enforcement, local-gossip, family, family-dynamics, autism-spectrum, pet-dog, hired-gardener, amateur-sleuth, unputdownable, divorced, suspense, relatives, witty*****

I only struggled through this book because the first in series had been TTS enabled and I loved it.
This one has the same delightful family and canine characters plus a new employer and a closed minded local law. There is vividly clear world building, unusual twists and creative red herrings. I loved it! The story is a fun read, but I sure hope the next installment will not be a pain in the eyes.
Not TTS enabled for visually impaired!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Embla Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Pub Date 03 Apr 2024 #TheGardenerMysteriesBk2 #BritishCozyCrime

Murder Takes Root was really more of a gardening and plant lesson for dog lovers than a murder mystery.
The repeating of the toy, sleeping in various postures, licking, playing, running, barking, and being the best dog someone could have are just a few of the things a reader can endure about Mouse.
I find it hard to comprehend how Steph concluded this was murder based only on her observation of the body from a distance, especially without any reasons just a feeling, since others who witness a person hanged claim it was suicide .
My issue with the hidden clues was that they were a gamble bet on being found given their lack of acquaintance over the week ..
Over all, this is a sad disappointment as I was taken in by the 5 and 4 stars.
An independent review for NetGalley / Embla Books

Cute, cozy mystery. For being short, I feel like a lot of characterization and setting is packed in. I would definitely read more books in the series. I like especially that Steph is a landscaper and so independent, it reminded me a bit of Circe by Madeleine Miller.

Steph has a wonderful job - she is a consultant on historic gardens and this post looks nearly perfect. Then a young servant is found dead and Steph is sure it was not suicide. Lots of charming gardening details, a very likable hero and her dog and an ever changing setting. Cannot wait to read the next title.

I was really excited to get approved for this one, but to be honest, it fell a bit flat for me. It was really slow to start and just didn’t capture my attention

Steph and her big dog, Mouse, are on to a new job at Ashford Manor where she'll be restoring the historic gardens to something resembling their original design. I enjoyed the second Gardener Mystery. The bond between Steph and her dog (the only two characters to return from the first book) is absolutely adorable. Her work in the garden is fascinating. The mystery itself is a unique one. I do miss the unusual setting of the first book and it looks like the third will be set in a new place with new characters.

Murder Takes Root, is the second book in The Gardener Mysteries series, with Seeds of Murder being the first.

In Murder Takes Root, the main character Steph returns, alongside her trusty canine companion, Mouse. Having been employed to restore a set of stately gardens everything seems to be going smoothly, until a dead body is found in one of the rooms. The police seem convinced that it's a suicide, but Steph is not so sure. She sets out to investigate exactly what happened, uncovering a number of secrets around the manor as she does so. Can she prove the death to have been a murder as she suspects, or has Steph been barking up the wrong tree?

I really enjoyed the second installment of this series and felt that it carried on perfectly from the first book, whilst also making sense as a standalone - a tricky balance to reach. We are introduced to a number of new characters- Jamie, Uncle Angus, and Vicky to name a few - who are strong, well developed characters. There are several characters who also return from the first book, and it is lovely to see Steph's parents and brothers through the phone and text conversations that are described. The story is split up to cover both Steph's investigation and her gardening/landscaping role in a way that does not feel lacking - and parts of the two sides do intertwine in ways that you might not initially expect!

Overall I really enjoyed Murder Takes Root, and rated this 4 stars. Looking forward to the third installment!
Thank You NetGalley, Embla Books, and Rosie Sandler for this ARC

This is a great second book in this series. I love gardener/landscaper Steph and her dog, Mouse. The murder in this book almost breaks my heart--I'm so sad at the loss of this particular character. I really care about them. The other secondary characters are strong too, with the exception of one very flat character who--no surprise--ends up being part of the criminal aspect in the book. The relationships between Steph and her brother and his family, Mouse and the older gardener, Mouse and Belle, Steph and Angus, Jamie and his brother...there are so many affirming relationships in this book, and I love them! I also like the realistic portrayal of a caring family dealing with the logistics of having a loved one with autism.

The author does a fabulous job of finding just the right balance between the world of the main character's job and passion and the world of the murder, weaving them both inextricably together. The only thing that keeps this one from being 5 stars is that one guilty party who's too obvious.

Still, I can't wait for Steph's next adventure!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the series, the first being Seeds of Murder. It can most certainly be read as a stand alone book although I would recommend the first book as an excellent read as well. Steph and Mouse (her adorable dog) take on another gardening job, this time at Ashford Manor, restoring the gardens to their former glory. The lovely descriptions of the gardening, the wonderful relationship between Mouse and Belle and the gentle investigations of Steph into a murder that the police believe is suicide all lead to a cracking read. And let's not forget Uncle Angus!

This is the second book in the series and is a fun read. It kept me guessing throughout the book. Unusual plot, and interesting characters & setting. Mouse is a complete dear!

This is a series I can get behind on so many levels! I adore cozy mysteries, they are my guilty pleasure and always a good read. My go-to's are usually based in the 1920's or Victorian eras, but can I get behind a gardener, her dog and grandpa? Oh yes! This book is enchanting with a capital EEEEEE!

Steph is commissioned by Lady Clara of Ashford Manor to embark on an immense task;, to reinvigorate the gardens

However, chaos ensues when a dead body isfound in the manor. The police dismiss it as a voluntary unaliving, but Steph, our erstwhile FMC, cannot let it go so easily. She knew the deceased and knew they would not do such a thing and as such, the only answer is... murder! Booo hissssss to the staff getting in the way, what are their reasons??

Steph is so relatable and utterly adorable and the core of side characters are charming, Mouse her dog, her grandfather, even Lady Clara who is a gem!

Recommend highly and will certainly be folllowing this author as a favourite for my cozy mystery fix!

Thank you to Netgalley, Embla Books and Rosie Sandler for this lovely Arc. My review is left voluntarily and all opiions are my own.