Mark Waddell

The Body in the Back Garden by Mark Waddell is the debut of A Crescent Cove Mysteries. The cover is what drew me to this book (love the shoes sticking out of the garden). Luke Tremblay is a bland main character. Several of the side characters outshone him (like Barnabus). The story is written in the first person which means we are subject to Luke’s every thought (repetitive details and the ogling of Sgt. Jack Munro). I thought Luke would question more facts especially considering his profession as an investigative journalist. I also felt he should have learned more about his inheritance from the lawyer. An example is that he did not know that his aunt had an employee who happens to live in the apartment above the antique shop. I know his name was added to the deed of both buildings so he did not have to wait for probate, but I do not believe it applies to the contents. I was curious how he could sell the buildings when the contents had yet to be inventoried. I enjoyed the descriptions of Cresent Cove. I would love to own the cottage Luke inherited from his aunt (I would love to spend days in her library). I was not a fan of the judgmental attitudes of most of the townspeople. There was a diverse cast of characters. I liked Barnabus Delacruz’s unique style of dress. Unfortunately, the town was not always open to those who were different (smart, unique hair color, clothing choices) or who are LGBTQIA. The mystery was simplistic. I was able to identify the guilty party early in the book. One detail had me on this person’s trail and another fact clenched it for me. There are a handful of suspects. For an investigative journalist, I felt Luke’s sleuthing skills were subpar. Details regarding the crime are repeated throughout the story. I was surprised at the mistakes Luke made during the investigation (it would have a defense attorney chuckling with glee). The whodunit is neatly wrapped up at the end of a long reveal. At times, The Body in the Back Garden felt like a romance instead of a cozy mystery. I thought it was a little soon for Luke to be on the market. Luke reconnected with a childhood friend who has turned into quite a striking Mountie (Royal Canadian Mountain Police). I would have preferred less romance and more complex mystery. Overall, The Body in the Back Garden was an okay story. Do I wish to read the next book in the series? While I like the rare cozy mystery setting, this series is not for me. The Body in the Back Garden transports readers to Vancouver Island where there is a vile victim, a handsome Mountie, a bevy of boxes, gorgeous gardens, a loaded library, intimidation demands, and rampant rumormongers.… (más)

amateur-sleuth, Canada, Canadian-author, class-consciousness, cozy-mystery, first-in-series, friendship, frustration, greed, inheritance, investigative-journalist, law-enforcement, m/m-cozy-mystery, murder, murder-investigation, new-series, read, secrets, shame, Vancouver Island, wealthy, First Nations*****

I think this is a great start to a new cozy mystery series!
Luke Tremblay has come back to Vancouver Island to see to his inheritance of a beloved cottage and his aunt's store. It was assumed that her death was a simple hit and run.
He isn't there very long before he is threatened on the property by a drunk whom he finds dead in the ornamental pond in the garden. Enter the local RCMP Sgt.
Great sleuthing by RCMP as well as our investigative journalist. AND they have a personal history from twenty years ago. Looking forward to more!
I requested and received an EARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!… (más)