Digging Up Trouble: A Nina Quinn Mystery

Loved this sleuth/mystery. First I had read in this series and will certainly read more. Held my attention to the last page!

In the 3rd book in the Nina Quinn Mystery series, Nina is hard at work completing a new backyard make-over for the relatives of her soon-to-be ex-husband's deceased wife. It seems complicated, but Nina cannot stop herself from the opportunity to snoop about her ex's first wife, and rushes into a makeover for their dilapidated yard. In the midst of the one-day makeover, the real owner of the property comes home early from work, to discover Nina and her crew excavating his backyard. Keeling over from shock, the homeowner dies...apparently from a heart attack. His wife quickly shows up on the scene, and threatens Nina with a lawsuit that could put an end to her successful business. Nina discovers that the people that hired her for the makeover are really the next-door neighbors, who owned a health food restaurant with the deceased. Adding to Nina's distress is her upcoming divorce (in less than two weeks), and the premature labor of her efficient office manager, Tam. Nina works overtime to save her business, and quickly discovers murder is part of the surprise after all. I love this series! Nina is a great character, and I found myself laughing aloud at times while reading this book. I couldn't put the book down, and found myself guessing at the outcome. The book contains wonderfully vivid characters and a great premise...it seemed like it was only a matter of time before Nina performed a make-over on either the wrong house or was hired by someone other than the owner. I cannot wait for the next installment in the fun mystery series! If you enjoy the Meg Langslow mystery series by Donna Andrews, you might want to consider giving this series a try. The first book in the series is called "A Hoe Lot of Trouble". Enjoy!

Probably the best cozy I've ever read! I have to admit I was skeptical at first, as the premise didn't sound all that interesting to me, but based on the two previous reviews, I decided to try it, and I'm glad I did. The dialogue is realistic and naturalistic--doesn't sound overly expository. The characters were interesting and quirky without being annoying and forced. The main character is nicely drawn and enjoyable to spend time with. Nothing felt formulaic. The plot kept me guessing, and there was just a touch of sexiness to keep things moving along. I plan to pick up Webber's other two books and start from the beginning. If you're looking for a bloodless cozy with charming characters and an easy, enjoyable read, give this one a try!

I LOVE this series by Heather Webber. All of her books are terrific with delightful characters. I love her relationship with her step-son. Ms. Webber is wonderful at writing humor. She makes the absurd sound so normal that it's even funnier. In this book, Nina faces the shambles of her marriage and taking charge of her life while her business and employees go wild. If you haven't read any of the NINA QUINN mysteries, start with the first and expect a lot of fun. If you have read the first books, you'll enjoy this one greatly.

New Client Lindsey Lockhart hires Nina Quinn's firm Taken by Surprise, Garden Designs, to spruce up her yard. Nina and her employees, ex-cons sent her way by her cousin probation officer Ana Bertolli, are in the yard when an angry man arrives. He yells at them to leave his property before suddenly keeling over and dying. Nina is stunned that Lindsey, the aunt of her stepson, sent her to do a make over of the yard of her neighbor Russ Grabinsky without his or his wife's permission. Russ' not grieving spouse Greta sues Nina and her firm for wrongful death. At the same time, the police rule it is murder and look at Nina and her probationers as the prime suspects. Though beleaguered and in trouble, Nina realizes no one grieves for the deceased, which has her looking elsewhere for the motive. Once again beleaguered but kind Nina learns that "Murder is a Growth Industry" when all she wants is for her landscaping business to thrive. The latest cozy has a different twist than her two previous amateur sleuth investigations (see TROUBLE IN SPADES and A HOE LOT OF TROUBLE) as this time the prime suspect is the heroine. The who-done-it is fun as she struggles to avoid a murder rap and save her business from a wrongful death lawsuit with the help of her ex-con employees. Harriet Klausner