by: Jess Dylan
Series: A Flower House Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release Date: November 30, 2021
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
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Petals and Poison is the second in a colorful cozy mystery series from Jess Dylan, set in a flower shop with a knack for attracting trouble as well as customers…
“Like her protagonist Sierra, Jess Dylan has manifested a charming cozy with humor, folksy dialogue, Southern charm, and a page-turning mystery.” –Peg Cochran, USA Today Bestselling Author
Sierra Ravenswood has embraced her role as owner of Flower House floral shop and companion to her former boss's pet, Gus the Corgi. Sierra’s team are enjoying their new jobs too. At least until everyone realizes their lack of experience might be contributing to their lack of customers . . .
Sierra decides they need a change in luck, so she creates a special window display featuring lucky bamboo and auspicious flowers. It seems the new arrangement has worked when the shop is flooded with customers the next day, including a van full of college students on a horticulture club field trip. Unfortunately, Sierra doesn't notice that the students’ distracted professor has gone missing until Gus's urgent barking leads her to the storeroom – and the body of the unfortunate professor.
With folks now referring to Flower House as “Poison House” and suspects galore, Sierra fears her new business is doomed before it has a chance to get off the ground. Determined to reverse course and see justice served, she sets out to solve the crime and change her luck once more.
The Flower House is no place for shrinking violets.
I’m great! Thanks so much for having me.
You’re welcome. You are a new to me author. Can you please tell me about yourself?
Sure thing. Like many people, I wear a few different hats. In my role as an author, I write feel-good cozy mysteries, with a hint of what I call “grounded magic.” The Flower House Mysteries is my second series, following the Wiccan Wheel Mysteries (under the name Jennifer David Hesse).
Besides that, I’m also a wife, a mom, and, in my day job, an environmental lawyer in a government agency.
Petals and Poison is the second book in your Flower House Mystery series. What can readers expect from it?
In Book 2, Sierra has decided to make the most of her job as owner of Flower House florist shop. She dreams up new ways to attract customers and has high hopes for the business. Unfortunately, her plans are interrupted when another murder occurs on the premises. The victim was a college professor, who stopped by with a group of students on a field trip. As Sierra soon learns, he had some interesting ties to several people who happened to be at the shop-- including Sierra’s new friend/employee/potential love interest, Calvin Foxheart. Readers can expect plenty of snooping, sleuthing, and shenanigans!
Please tell me about your protagonist Sierra Ravenswood.
Sierra is a 28-year-old former singer-songwriter, who failed to hit the big time in Nashville and had to move back to her small hometown of Aerieville, Tennessee. At first, she works part-time at Flower House, thinking it will be temporary. Then her boss unexpectedly decides to take off-- and leaves her in charge! But Sierra is an optimist, who believes things happen for a reason. She loves to use the Law of Attraction and other self-help tools to make her dreams come true. In essence, she’s a kind-hearted, free spirit, who finds that her ability to get people to open up comes in handy when she encounters mysteries in her midst.
I’m a romance girl, and I love my cozy mysteries with a little romance thrown in the mix. Is there a little romance involved in this series?
I do too! A little romance always makes things more interesting. There’s definitely a spark between Sierra and Calvin. She enjoys getting to know him better, though she wonders about his past and whether or not he’ll remain in Aerieville.
Can you tell me a little about some of the secondary characters we’ll see in the book?
As in Book 1 (Death in Bloom), Sierra will be assisted by a small cast of regulars. She’s pretty close with her parents and her brother. In addition, there’s Granny Mae, folk healer and keeper of mountain wisdom, who dispenses charms and superstitious warnings. Deena Lee, Sierra’s smart and polished friend, takes on a bigger role at the shop and continues to be a solid sleuthing partner. Calvin, as I mentioned, works at the shop and finds himself in need of Sierra’s help. And, of course, Gus the Corgi, will provide some charm and entertainment of his own.
The series takes place in a town called Aerieville, Tennessee. Is this a real place or is it based on a real place?
Aerieville is a fictional small town in Eastern Tennessee, in the shadow of the Appalachians. It’s based on a mish-mash of typical American small towns against a backdrop of abundant nature, folklore, and the mysterious atmosphere of the Smoky Mountains.
What’s the favorite part of a cozy mystery to write?
I think my favorite part is creating the clues and red herrings and figuring out how the characters will put together all the pieces of the puzzle. Through the writing process, I feel like I get to solve the mystery right alongside them.
If Sierra was a real person and I could sit down and talk with her, what do you think she would say about you?
She would probably say I should lighten up and not be so serious all the time. Lol. In spite of her seeming naivety sometimes, she’s not a bad role model for looking on the bright side and enjoying life in spite of the challenges.
Jess, what’s next for you?
Following Petals and Poison, Book 3 in the series (Fatal Flowers) will be released in May of 2022. Interested readers can sign up for my newsletter to stay up to date on book news and reader perks at www.JessDylan.com.
Jess, thank you so much for taking the time to answer some questions for me.
Thanks, Kim! It’s been a pleasure.
Chapter 1
Something’s missing. Frowning, I studied the array of flowers, greenery, and assorted decorations I’d arranged in the picture window. In the center, fresh bouquets of bright zinnias fairly burst with color and cheer. On one side, a stand of purple and pink phalaenopsis orchids called to mind luxury and elegance; on the other side, a tied bouquet of fat, luscious silk peonies sang of romance and riches. The pottery—glazed ceramics handcrafted by local artisans—added an upscale touch, while the garden art kept things playful—especially the chubby gnome, ladybug fairy hut, and rainbow-hued metal spinner. As a backdrop, trailing ivy and potted ferns brought a lush, vibrant greenness to the scene. I leaned over to straighten two small wooden signs (declaring Welcome and Be Happy), then stood back with hand on chin.
It all looked very nice. The overall effect was “secret garden meets enchanted forest.” But was it attractive enough? Meaning, would it attract the good vibes, abundant customers, and business growth I was going for?
“Sierra Ravenswood! Are you still working on that display?” Deena Lee, my right-hand woman and new best friend, breezed in from the back room, her skirt swishing and heels clicking on the tile floor. We’d run in different circles back in high school, but when we both returned to our hometown of Aerieville, Tennessee, a decade later, Deena and I found we had more in common than we ever knew. I was still grateful she’d decided to stay and work for me at the flower shop. She had a good eye for beautiful designs. “It looks fine,” she assured me. “It looked fine half an hour ago.”
“Yeah, maybe. But I’m trying something here.”
“You know,” she went on, “it’s not like we get much foot traffic on Oak Street anyway.”
That was true. Flower House was in the old section of town. We were one of a few converted Victorians in a quiet, mostly residential, neighborhood. The only other businesses on the block were a small bakery, a dusty antique shop, an accountant’s office, and a volunteer-run, rarely open historical society. At the end of the street was a forgotten little park called Melody Gardens. All the more reason to take extraordinary steps to lure in new customers.
“This is more than an everyday window display,” I said. The one I’d just removed had been more traditional, with lots of red, white, and blue in honor of Independence Day. Now that the holiday was over, I wanted to go in another direction. “This is a vision board of sorts. Everything I included is meant to symbolize abundance and prosperity. Like the vines: fast-growing, because we need to grow fast.”
She gave me a bemused look. “That’s why we’re opening the café next weekend. People will come in to try our edible flower goodies, then make a purchase while they’re here.” Deena would be the chef in our new mini-restaurant.
“I know. But it can’t hurt to infuse the place with an extra bit of luck.” I looked at the display again and tilted my head. Was that what was missing? A lucky charm?
From Petals and Poison by Jess Dylan. Used with the permission of the publisher, St. Martin’s Press. Copyright © 2021 by Jess Dylan.
Something’s missing. Frowning, I studied the array of flowers, greenery, and assorted decorations I’d arranged in the picture window. In the center, fresh bouquets of bright zinnias fairly burst with color and cheer. On one side, a stand of purple and pink phalaenopsis orchids called to mind luxury and elegance; on the other side, a tied bouquet of fat, luscious silk peonies sang of romance and riches. The pottery—glazed ceramics handcrafted by local artisans—added an upscale touch, while the garden art kept things playful—especially the chubby gnome, ladybug fairy hut, and rainbow-hued metal spinner. As a backdrop, trailing ivy and potted ferns brought a lush, vibrant greenness to the scene. I leaned over to straighten two small wooden signs (declaring Welcome and Be Happy), then stood back with hand on chin.
It all looked very nice. The overall effect was “secret garden meets enchanted forest.” But was it attractive enough? Meaning, would it attract the good vibes, abundant customers, and business growth I was going for?
“Sierra Ravenswood! Are you still working on that display?” Deena Lee, my right-hand woman and new best friend, breezed in from the back room, her skirt swishing and heels clicking on the tile floor. We’d run in different circles back in high school, but when we both returned to our hometown of Aerieville, Tennessee, a decade later, Deena and I found we had more in common than we ever knew. I was still grateful she’d decided to stay and work for me at the flower shop. She had a good eye for beautiful designs. “It looks fine,” she assured me. “It looked fine half an hour ago.”
“Yeah, maybe. But I’m trying something here.”
“You know,” she went on, “it’s not like we get much foot traffic on Oak Street anyway.”
That was true. Flower House was in the old section of town. We were one of a few converted Victorians in a quiet, mostly residential, neighborhood. The only other businesses on the block were a small bakery, a dusty antique shop, an accountant’s office, and a volunteer-run, rarely open historical society. At the end of the street was a forgotten little park called Melody Gardens. All the more reason to take extraordinary steps to lure in new customers.
“This is more than an everyday window display,” I said. The one I’d just removed had been more traditional, with lots of red, white, and blue in honor of Independence Day. Now that the holiday was over, I wanted to go in another direction. “This is a vision board of sorts. Everything I included is meant to symbolize abundance and prosperity. Like the vines: fast-growing, because we need to grow fast.”
She gave me a bemused look. “That’s why we’re opening the café next weekend. People will come in to try our edible flower goodies, then make a purchase while they’re here.” Deena would be the chef in our new mini-restaurant.
“I know. But it can’t hurt to infuse the place with an extra bit of luck.” I looked at the display again and tilted my head. Was that what was missing? A lucky charm?
From Petals and Poison by Jess Dylan. Used with the permission of the publisher, St. Martin’s Press. Copyright © 2021 by Jess Dylan.
Purchase Petals and Poison from:
The A Flower House Mystery Series:
Fatal Flowers releases May 24, 2022
Jennifer David Hesse is an environmental attorney by day and author by night. A lifelong mystery lover, she’s thrilled to write fun cozy mysteries including the Flower House Mysteries (as Jess Dylan) and the Wiccan Wheel Mysteries. Born and raised in Central Illinois, Jennifer now lives, works, and plays in "sweet home" Chicago. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hanging out with her family, hiking in the woods, practicing yoga, and reading old Nancy Drew books.
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I really liked the first one, so am looking forward to catching up with Sierra and her great family.
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