Writer's Digest Award Winning Author On paper, it was a great idea. Ginger Barnes would chauffeur her mother’s dear friend, fierce floral competitor Iffy Bigelow, to the world-famous Philadelphia Flower Show in time to perfect that day’s “Sew What?” entry. In return, Gin and mother Cynthia would tour the magnificent displays with almost no one in the aisles. Heaven!
No such luck. Iffy gets herself strangled behind the Tastee Freeze booth, and Gin’s mother raises a ruckus. The police favor the victim’s mentally unstable niece for the crime, but Cynthia will have none of it. “You solved a murder for your husband,” she reminds the amateur sleuth she raised. “Now you can solve one for me.”
What Readers and listeners say: “Excellent! This is a fast-paced story that I was glued to from beginning to end. The author is a master of her craft, the narrator was fantastic with the various characters, and I never figured who the culprit was until it was revealed. Ginger Barnes is likeable, fierce, loyal and does everything in her power to keep her loved ones safe. I highly recommend this book.” 5* RobynKFLNJ
“Altogether fun, satisfying and saucy , with just a light dusting of danger.” 5* Cleargrace
“ Charming audio book. Listen to [Ginger’s] wisdom on dealing with her kids and the bad guys. She's a delightful character that you will fall for...” 4* Marissa
“…an easy, well-flowing read, speckled with humor.” 5* Diana M Hockley, Australia
“… a great way to spend some time …a well written, entertaining who-done-it with twists and turns to keep you guessing.” 5* llenhard
“I was jumping from one suspect to another trying to solve the murder. I loved…the fact that I could picture the show and plants in my mind…I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a really good mystery!” 4* C.H.
Review
"Barnes' irreverent attitude about her situation makesfor a great character - almost as if Spenser was a housewife." THE DROOD REVIEWOF MYSTERY
From the Author
Aside from being my favorite title, this was the book that secured me a 3-book contract with St. Martin's Press. A fan of the Philadelphia Flower Show since I was little, I had a blast learning what goes on behind the scenes, but I confess selling several hundred books to show-goers when FINAL ARRANGEMENTS first came out was even better.
From the Back Cover
"Surprise around every turn of the page." 4* Jim K.
"A very charismatic mystery that had me guessing right up to the end." 5* Pattie Peer
About the Author
Donna Huston Murray's cozy mystery series features an amateur sleuth much like herself, a DIY headmaster's wife with a troubling interest in crime. The eighth Gin Barnes, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, was awarded Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Award for mysteries, and the first two novels in the Lauren Beck mystery/crime series won Honorable Mention in genre fiction from Writer's Digest . The series third,STRANGER DANGER, also achieved Finalist in theNational Indie Excellence Awards.
In 2022, Donna became the tenth inductee into her high school's Lifetime Achievement Award Hall of Fame. To hint that she's still writing, the plaque reads, "...and more," below her listed books.
When she isn't plotting mayhem, Donna assumes she can fix anything until proven wrong, calls trash-picking recycling, and, although she should know better by now, got a new puppy. Check her socials and you'll understand.
Donna and husband, Hench, live in Gwynedd, PA, USA.
Description:
Writer's Digest Award Winning Author
On paper, it was a great idea. Ginger Barnes would chauffeur her mother’s dear friend, fierce floral competitor Iffy Bigelow, to the world-famous Philadelphia Flower Show in time to perfect that day’s “Sew What?” entry. In return, Gin and mother Cynthia would tour the magnificent displays with almost no one in the aisles. Heaven!
No such luck. Iffy gets herself strangled behind the Tastee Freeze booth, and Gin’s mother raises a ruckus. The police favor the victim’s mentally unstable niece for the crime, but Cynthia will have none of it. “You solved a murder for your husband,” she reminds the amateur sleuth she raised. “Now you can solve one for me.”
What Readers and listeners say:
“Excellent! This is a fast-paced story that I was glued to from beginning to end. The author is a master of her craft, the narrator was fantastic with the various characters, and I never figured who the culprit was until it was revealed. Ginger Barnes is likeable, fierce, loyal and does everything in her power to keep her loved ones safe. I highly recommend this book.” 5* RobynKFLNJ
“Altogether fun, satisfying and saucy , with just a light dusting of danger.” 5* Cleargrace
“ Charming audio book. Listen to [Ginger’s] wisdom on dealing with her kids and the bad guys. She's a delightful character that you will fall for...” 4* Marissa
“…an easy, well-flowing read, speckled with humor.” 5* Diana M Hockley, Australia
“… a great way to spend some time …a well written, entertaining who-done-it with twists and turns to keep you guessing.” 5* llenhard
“I was jumping from one suspect to another trying to solve the murder. I loved…the fact that I could picture the show and plants in my mind…I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a really good mystery!” 4* C.H.
Review
"Barnes' irreverent attitude about her situation makesfor a great character - almost as if Spenser was a housewife." THE DROOD REVIEWOF MYSTERY
From the Author
Aside from being my favorite title, this was the book that secured me a 3-book contract with St. Martin's Press. A fan of the Philadelphia Flower Show since I was little, I had a blast learning what goes on behind the scenes, but I confess selling several hundred books to show-goers when FINAL ARRANGEMENTS first came out was even better.
From the Back Cover
"Surprise around every turn of the page." 4* Jim K.
"A very charismatic mystery that had me guessing right up to the end." 5* Pattie Peer
About the Author
Donna Huston Murray's cozy mystery series features an amateur sleuth much like herself, a DIY headmaster's wife with a troubling interest in crime. The eighth Gin Barnes, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, was awarded Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Award for mysteries, and the first two novels in the Lauren Beck mystery/crime series won Honorable Mention in genre fiction from Writer's Digest . The series third,STRANGER DANGER, also achieved Finalist in theNational Indie Excellence Awards.
In 2022, Donna became the tenth inductee into her high school's Lifetime Achievement Award Hall of Fame. To hint that she's still writing, the plaque reads, "...and more," below her listed books.
When she isn't plotting mayhem, Donna assumes she can fix anything until proven wrong, calls trash-picking recycling, and, although she should know better by now, got a new puppy. Check her socials and you'll understand.
Donna and husband, Hench, live in Gwynedd, PA, USA.