Book Review: Three Dirty Women and the Garden of Death

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Three Dirty Women and the Garden of Death     Amazon US TPB Amazon Canada TPB
Julie Wray Herman
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Amateur Sleuth   Police Procedural
Silver Dagger, Apr 2000, $15.00, 176 pp.

As a pre-wedding present to his fiancée, Dennis McFaile hired Three Dirty Women to landscape his future bride’s yard. However, while working in the dirt, the three women, Amilou Whittier, Korene McFaile, and Janey Bascom uncover the corpse of a man in the midst of the garden. The deceased turns out to be Amilou’s spouse Greg who supposedly ran off with a younger woman last month.

Janey’s husband J.J. heads the official investigation. His first reaction is that Amilou might have killed her husband in a fit of rage. He has not ruled out that Greg’s last known lover might have killed him in a fit of homicidal anger. Amilou’s partners wonder if Susannah, the mother of the future bride killed Greg her former lover in a fit of anger. As two dirty women try to prove the innocence of the remaining dirty woman, they learn how difficult that can be especially when the person they want to rescue refuses to cooperate.

THREE DIRTY WOMEN AND THE GARDEN OF DEATH is an entertaining regional mystery that will thrill sub-genre fans. The story line is fun as the audience observes the aftermath of the womanizing Greg on much of the townsfolk who simply detested the deceased. The three women are intriguing characters, but at times trip over each other and clog the plot. The secondary cast adds a southern small town feel and insight into Greg’s trifling with too many hearts. Julie Wray Herman writes a warm mystery that will provide much enjoyment to readers.

Harriet Klausner

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