Deadly Bloom

Rose Pemberton thought hosting the annual rare plant auction would be a perfect way to celebrate Bloomfield Springs' thriving horticultural community. With her nursery business flourishing and the Stanfeld Estate heritage project bringing new recognition to their small town, she was looking forward to a peaceful weekend showcasing exceptional botanical specimens. But when renowned collector Dr. Gerald Nickle arrives with orchids that seem too good to be true, Rose's corporate instincts sense something far more dangerous than inflated auction prices. Someone has been running a systematic fraud scheme, selling common plants as rare varieties with forged authentication documents while stealing irreplaceable specimens from botanical institutions. When Dr. Nickle is found dead from an apparent heart attack, Rose discovers the victim was actually an investigator who'd uncovered the theft network. The police suspect natural causes. Rose suspects murder—and realizes the criminal operation extends far beyond their small-town auction. With her Garden Club allies—meticulous researcher Violet, information network Betty, and steady partner Jim—Rose must expose the truth before the killers eliminate more threats to their operation. But this time, the corruption reaches into the rare plant market itself, and the stakes aren't just individual collections—they're fighting to protect their entire collecting community from systematic exploitation disguised as legitimate business. In Bloomfield Springs, even plant authenticity can be a deadly deception. Perfect for readers who love small-town mysteries with strong community bonds, Deadly Bloom is the sixth book in The Garden Club Mysteries series—where heritage runs deep, but fraud runs deeper.