Book Review: Full Bloom

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Full Bloom     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Janet Evanovich , Charlotte Hughes
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Romance
Series: Full # 5
St. Martin’s, Apr 2005, $7.99, 352 pp.

In Beaumont, South Carolina, Annie Fortenberry is trying to prepare her historical mansion turned B&B into a wedding reception for her best friend Jamie Swift and millionaire Max Holt. Her handyman Erdle Torney who came with the place she inherited from her grandmother has failed to do his job so she loses her temper and goes after him with a rolling pin. Visitor Wes Bridges gets in the way and is knocked out.

A gardener borrowed from her neighbor finds human skeletal remains in an isolated area where foliage has grown. The victim is Annie’s spouse Charles who allegedly ran away several years ago. In fact, Wes is a private investigator working for Charles’ mother to prove that Annie lost her temper and harmed her son. As the police suspect Annie as the killer, Wes believes she is innocent, but wonders if that is because he really likes her when she is not holding a rolling pin.

This amusing romantic who-done-it has the audience laughing from the moment Wes finds out how insane the Peach B&B is that is after he awakens from a bonking and swallowing a horse tranquilizer given by a retired vet. The story line gets even zanier, but never loses focus on the murder investigation handled by the cops and Wes separately. FULL BLOOM is a strong comedic romantic mystery that readers will want more plums from Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner