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Santa Barbara, California – Present Day The residents of the tiny residential cottages known as the Marigold Cottages are there because the owner/landlord, affectionately known as Mrs. B, has taken them under her wing. Their rent is reasonable, and they wouldn’t live anywhere else. The residents are Sophie, an anxious young playwright with a dark past; Hamilton, an agoraphobe who likes to overshare; Ocean, a queer sculptor raising two kids alone; the perfectionist Lily-Ann; and Nicholas, a finance bro who’s hiding secrets. They mostly keep to themselves, which is how they like it. But their idyllic lives are shattered when a man is murdered on the property shortly after Mrs. B rents one of her vacant cottages to a former prison inmate. Surely Anthony is guilty of the crime. But Mrs. B insists he’s not, and it’s up to the group at the Marigold Cottages to find out who did the deed. THE MARIGOLD COTTAGES MURDER COLLECTIVE is an entertaining whodunit that is told from various points of view. Anthony certainly looks guilty of the crime, especially since the detective assigned to the case is “helping” to gather evidence against him. While the residents (except for the newcomer, Anthony) have lived together for a few years in the complex of cottages, they rarely socialize with each other. The murder in their “world” shakes them and brings them together. Of course, they all agree that Mrs. B is the best, and if she says Anthony didn’t do it, then she’s telling the truth. But why is she so insistent? It gets even more puzzling when she goes to the police station and confesses to the crime herself! There are a lot of red herrings and side stories to keep readers enthralled. Sophie has a drinking problem, and we soon learn that she once passed out drunk weeks ago, and Anthony (a bouncer at a club) safely brought her home. Is that why Mrs. B rented to him because he is a decent guy despite his prison record? Nicholas works for the city and is struggling with the knowledge that investors want Mrs. B’s property in order to tear it down and build new housing. Is her valuable property a possible connection to the murder? Lily-Ann still sees her estranged ex from time to time. He wants her back, but she has had enough of him and is ready to divorce him. Ocean’s eyes are opening up to the world around her after struggling with her divorce from her children’s mother. Who is helping her? Why, none other than Hamilton, who is a bit of a weird dude, but he is wise. As the motley crew attempts to solve the mysterious death, they grow closer and learn more about each other. Will they find the culprit and clear Anthony and Mrs. B? Will someone else die before they figure out who the killer is? If you love a complex but fun tale, then you won’t want to miss THE MARIGOLD COTTAGES MURDER COLLECTIVE. Patti Fischer |
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THE MARIGOLD COTTAGES MURDER COLLECTIVE – Jo Nichols