Bindweed is the latest in the “gardening mystery “series featuring Bretta Solomon. Before her death in River City, Missouri Agnes Sutton arranged for brain damaged son Toby to do odd jobs for Hawthorne Street shopkeepers. His diligence has ensured that he does not lack for work and friends. When Bretta learns of his sudden death from hornet’s bites, she is drawn into investigating the reason why someone would plant a hornet’s nest in his room. One of the few clues that she has is the loss of some strange flowers that were stolen from the late Agnes Sutton’s garden. As she investigates Toby’s death Bretta also has to deal with personal issues such as her
burgeoning relationship with her neighbour and her father’s young lover who is more interested in redesigning her home but proves to be a strong ally.
Bindweed is a story with an amateur sleuth that is surrounded with a cast of interesting characters that are used in a rather clever and amusing manner. This is a “gentle” story, which will no doubt endear itself to those readers that abhor gory violence of any kind but do not mind being given pointers on growing and arranging flowers as they solve a crime. The resolution was not that
unexpected from this type of story. If you are fond of any type of gardening then you will
certainly enjoy Bindweed
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Ayo Onatade