Natural Thorn Killer (A Rose City Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
New Series
Kensington (March 27, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages

Synopsis

Cut down among the flowers . . .

Britta Johnston might be a late bloomer, but after leaving her deadbeat husband and dead-end job, she’s finally pursuing her artistic passion at her aunt Elin’s floral boutique, Blooma, in Portland, Oregon. It’s on the banks of the Willamette, in a quaint district of cobblestone paths and cherry trees. The wine bar featuring Pacific Northwest vintages is a tasty bonus, offering another kind of bouquet to enjoy. But things aren’t as peaceful as they look.

For one thing, someone’s been leaving dead roses around—and a sleazy real estate developer who wants the waterfront property has put a big-money offer on the table. Then, after a contentious meeting of local business owners, he’s found on the floor of the shop, with Elin’s garden shears planted in his chest. And before the police decide to pin the crime on her beloved aunt, Britta will have to find out who arranged this murder . . .

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Guest Post

Today I welcome Kate to StoreyBook Reviews.  Today she shares some tips on flower shops and the best way to preserve the flowers while on display.

Thanks so much for having me on the blog today! One of the things that I loved most about writing Natural Thorn Killer, the first book in my new Rose City Mystery Series, was getting to interview and spend time with florists. I learned enough in the process of researching the day to day working life of a real floral designer to fill stacks and stacks of future books. In addition to learning the tips and tricks of the trade, I heard a handful of horror stories about nightmare clients and bridezillas—perfect material to tuck away for when I’m working on the next book and need a villain.

Spending time in gorgeous flower shops surrounded by bright, colorful blooms and intoxicating aromas was a sensory experience. One of the things that surprised me the most was the amount of work that goes into preparing each stem. I learned in my research that most independent flower shop owners procure each and every flower on their own. They start their mornings at the wholesale flower market, perusing row after row of vendors who bring flowers in mass to sell. It’s a bit like the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange, only with florists bartering over the best heirloom roses and chocolate sunflowers.

Once a florist has secured a fresh assortment of flowers, seedpods, and greenery they return to their shops. From there they process each stem. This involves giving every stem a quick trim at an angle in order to ensure that the flower can absorb water and that a scab doesn’t form on the stem. After the flowers have been trimmed they are plunged into a special bath of warm water, sugar, bleach, and lemon juice. This mixture can help extend a bouquets life for over a week. Some of the florists who I spoke with in my research said they guarantee every vase of flowers that leave their shop. If it begins to wilt or droop in the first few days, they’ll gladly allow their customers to return it for a fresh one. That’s how confident they are in their process of preserving flowers.

The next time you purchase a bundle of flowers at a farmer’s market or pick them from your backyard, try this trick to preserve their life and keep them looking bright and cheery!

Here’s Britta and Aunt Elin’s recipe for Love Juice:

Love Juice—Aunt Elin and Britta’s simple solution for preserving fresh cut flowers. When purchasing flowers at your local floral boutique or picking them from your garden be sure to immediately place them in warm water. While they are soaking, mix one cup of tepid water with a teaspoon of sugar, bleach, and lemon juice or vinegar. Stir the mixture. Then cut a half inch off each flower stem at an angle. Fill a vase with tepid water, add the love juice, and arrange the stems. Love juice will help extend the life of your arrangement. Change out the water and repeat the process every three or four days.

About the Author

Kate Dyer-Seeley writes the Pacific Northwest Mystery Series for Kensington Publishing, featuring a young journalist, Meg Reed, who bills herself as an intrepid adventurer in order to land a gig writing for Northwest Extreme. Only Meg’s idea of sport is climbing onto the couch without spilling her latte.

She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and son, where you can find her hitting the trail, at an artisan coffee shop, or at her favorite pub. Better yet—at all three.

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