THE VILLAGE APOTHECARY MYSTERIES
A BRAND NEW COZY MYSTERY SERIES!
Welcome to Thornwick Green, where ancient wisdom meets modern mystery.
When former pharmaceutical researcher Ivy Blackthorn inherits her great-aunt's cottage and reopens the village's historic apothecary, she thinks she's found the perfect escape from corporate life. But in this picturesque Cotswolds village, deadly secrets grow alongside the healing herbs. Armed with her scientific background, and her great-aunt's traditional plant wisdom—plus the keen instincts of Basil, her inherited ginger tom—Ivy discovers that her botanical expertise makes her uniquely qualified to solve the plant-based mysteries that plague Thornwick Green.
From deadly nightshade disguised as harmless tea, to foxglove hidden in ancient rituals, each seasonal celebration brings new dangers rooted in the village's deepest secrets. As Ivy builds her practice and finds her place in the tight-knit community, she forms an unlikely partnership with local veterinarian Seb Ashworth, whose knowledge of rural life perfectly complements her herbal expertise. Together, they uncover family betrayals, financial fraud, and long-buried scandals—all while Ivy learns that true healing comes not just from plants, but from the connections we cultivate with others.
Twelve seasonal mysteries featuring the healing arts, village life, and the deadly potential hidden in nature's pharmacy.
After trading her high-stress pharmaceutical career for the healing herbs of a Cotswolds village, Ivy Blackthorn thought her biggest worry would be winning over sceptical locals.
She was wrong.
When Ivy inherits her great-aunt's apothecary in the picturesque village of Thornwick Green, she's determined to bridge traditional plant wisdom with modern science. Nine months in, she's finally earning the community's trust, until the village's biggest critic, Mrs Enid Hartwell, collapses at the Spring Fair—clutching a teacup bearing Ivy's shop logo.
With deadly nightshade in Enid's system, and berries missing from Ivy's carefully controlled garden, all evidence points to the newcomer. But as Ivy digs deeper, with the help of handsome veterinarian Seb Ashworth and her loyal circle of friends, she discovers that Enid wasn't just the village busybody, she was an amateur detective on the trail of a dangerous secret.
From church herb gardens to grand estate greenhouses, Ivy must use every bit of her botanical knowledge to uncover the truth. Because in Thornwick Green, someone is willing to kill to keep the past buried, and they're not finished with their deadly harvest.
Can Ivy prove her innocence and catch a killer before she becomes the next victim? Or will her dream of a peaceful life among the healing herbs wither before it can truly bloom?
Perfect for fans of Sheila Connolly and Bailey Cates, A Deadly Bloom plants the seeds for a captivating new cozy mystery series, where modern science meets ancient wisdom, and every garden holds secrets
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Discover how it all began...
When pharmaceutical researcher Ivy Blackthorn arrives at her great-aunt's cottage, she's running from a life that nearly destroyed her. Broken by corporate betrayal and crippling anxiety, she expects nothing more than a place to hide and heal.
But Aunt Millie has other plans. In the herb gardens of Thornwick Green, Ivy will learn that true healing comes not from laboratories, but from listening—to plants, to people, and to the wisdom whispered by her own wounded heart.
A story of second chances, ancient wisdom, and finding home in the most unexpected places. Experience Ivy's transformation from lost soul to village healer, in this exclusive prequel to The Village Apothecary Mysteries.